curtaincall, I'm 43. My father was a teacher in the same school district I was in. The only time I was EVER not in school when I was supposed to be was when I forgot about a pep rally and afternoon classes were shortened. I had open campus lunch hours and drove to eat at a restaurant with friends and got back late (on time, on a normal day). My parents were notified and they understood how it happened, but also cautioned me that if I could not be responsible enough with my schedule, I shouldn't be driving their car, for 2 weeks if I remember correctly.

On another occasion, my mother called the school on Senior Skip Day to see if I was in classes. (I was!) I got to drive to a graduation party that night. It was a blast!

IMHO, Today's kids have 2 things going against them:

1. Parents are both working (if there are even 2 parents involved) and time and energy is much different. My Mom had the time to follow-up.

2. The laws have been changed too much in favor of kids to the point where parents have lost the ability to lovingly discipline their own children. "If you touch me, I'll call the cops" is the more frequent response. Discipline doesn't mean spanking, but by the time a kid is in high school, good luck with "grounding" or adding chores to discipline. I don't believe in abusing a child (of course), but I think too much power has been handed over to children who do not know how to control their own behavior yet or make decisions that an adult sometimes doesn't even do right all the time. (Look at the article with the 2 good kids last weekend where the one boy was seriously injured...)

There is a difference between being kids (or boys will be boys) and blatantly disrespecting and disregarding authority.

I hope the parents have gotten resources (for their own well being and the child's.)I hope it wasn't too late. However, placing blame on the school has the potential to teach children that its not their fault, the responsibility lies elsewhere. Yes, the school should alert parents when the child doesn't show up but its the parent consequences that will be most important.

How can a parent help their child with truancy issues, when they are not being informed of the problem in the first place? I love Evansville Schools, but I believe Heidi Carvin is probably the worst thing that ever happened to the district.

how do you know the parents have not already done that? once again you are assuming.

Thats the problem- you asked the judge to create consequences. The consequences need to start at home. If they have and the child is still that out of control that they do not attend school, getting resources, counseling, etc is needed because likely the child is up to way more than just skipping school. I hope the parents aren't paying the fines either. The child needs an "after school" job

Senior skip day, but it was practically school approved.

I am sure there are some parents who don't care if there kids go to school or not. From meeting them, on a bright sunny morning in court, for truancy I can tell you they as well did not 'let' there kid miss school. We talked about it a lot while we were waiting.

It's just not every parents life is a cake walk. It is hard, it would be much easier to say I am not doing this anymore. You stay home and do nothing with your life.

That is not us. From what I could tell not them either.. I mean come on they went into the court and asked the Judge to give the strongest message he could give to this kid.

I am curious I am close to 40. I only give my age because when I was growing up I never would have dreamed of skipping school . My parents would have killed me.

Thats why when we had the trouble with our daughter I was just floored. I could not believe she would do this.

Who out there that is old enough to have kids in school now, skipped when you were your kids age?

Absurd? No, there are parents who know their children are skipping school and it is easier to ignore it than be a parent. It takes a lot of work to truly be a parent and some think when they get them past a babysitter age and into high school they are done. I apologize to Curtaincall if I put her into this catagory, obviously she doesn't belong there.

"What do kids do when they skip school?"

They do ANYTHING but be there. For some kids, it's about boredom. Overfilled classes and teachers who do nothing but lecture and make you take notes will bore you. I know it bored me! For others, like me, it was about not getting bullied. I would go anywhere than be near the people who made my life hell.

from what I have heard not much.

I think we should make something clear. Kids who do skip school should get tickets, be held accountable. No one is saying they should not.

But on the other side the school has to be held accountable as well if they are not following the law.

It's like with police officer's we expect them to live within the law. We don't give them a free pass to do what ever they want.

Same thing here. If everyone follows the law all is good.

What do kids do when they skip school?

three lawsuits? They must not be doing something right.

The kids wouldn't have to "pay the price" if they did the right thing. I like how when the kid screws up it somehow turns out to be the school's fault.

I am sorry but it just absurd to think that any parent lets there kid ditch school. When people don't know the history, they should not assume the simple.

I find it interesting that the Evansville school district has three lawsuits pending all from the last year.

I was in court with my son about two years ago in Evansville, Juvenile court. For something stupid on his part. But anyway I got to talking with another father who was there with his son. They told me they were there for truancy. I asked skip a day or two?

I was stunned when the answer I got was more like 90. I then said well you must have had to come back from last year.

The response was no, its all from this year.
90 days. The dad remember was a single dad and had pulled out all the stops.

I am not certain what happened in court that day because juvenile is closed. I ran in to the dad about a month ago and we made small talk at the store. I asked him about his son.

He pulled him from school, the kid took either his ged or hsed? and is now a sophomore in college getting honors. Gong to classes.

I simply think the kid was bored out of his mind. Not a excuse but its not always a simple answer.

I think people need to remember that the Judge asked for this change not the parents, so there must be good reason.

I personally think Judge Alisankus rocks. He does a excellent job with these kids.

I agree with the idea that we all as parents, our students have to follow the law. So should the schools. If they follow the law they won't have to worry about this change in the ordinance . If they don't, well then like the rest of they will be held accountable.

So people when posting, unless you live in the four walls with these parents and kids don't just assume you know what they have or had not done.

IF this is something your kids would never do be grateful, be thrilled, count your lucky stars.

But don't be so arrogant as to judge.

The family I am famaliar with did the same thing. They don't allow their son to drive- has not in some time and it does not stop him. They have taken away just about everything one can think of. That is why when nothing else seemed to be working they asked the court to hand him his..

They have been through alot with this kid.

But what does that say when even the school board president did not get a call?

They are not following the law.

That can not be tolerated.

Good punishment with the drivers ed. You don't "let" them the first or second time, but by 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th times the punishment is obviously not persuading them to quit and they continue.

I am not sure about Janesville or other schools in the area. But in Evansville when a student is as little as ten minutes late they are considered truant for that block, even if they are tehre for the rest of the 70 minutes. So what some people would think of as tardy is actually truant.

There is obviously a issue with the school following the law, or this ordinace wording change would not have been suggested.

We all have to follow the law even schools.
Why they don't use a auto matice phone notice I don't know. It has been suggested many times to them.

how do you let? let? If I am work I am not letting her do anything. Long story short she has done much better this second half of the school year since we told her- NO driver's ed. until the problem ceased.

How do you let your 15 year old ditch 7 + times? Do you punish her for skipping? My teens know the punishment would outweigh any enjoyment they might get from missing school.

ahyes- here we go again with someone who thinks they should speak when they have no clue. I know the one family personally and have done everything under the sun. Right down to asking the judge to enforce a ticket that is not enforacle because the school violated the law.

You don't know this family so don't assume you know what they have or have not done.

The school is breaking the law and that can not be ignored any more than the child breaking the law.

Why do think this change in ordinance was asked for?

Because it is a problem in the Evansville school district.

You know. do as I say not as I do.

How does one tell their kid go to school, follow the rules(law) but don't expect the adults to.

By the way the ahyes, there is a state law that says all schools will do this. A law.

No where in this law does it say its optional.

NO more optional than NOT going to school.

most schools use automated phone calls. If you are a parent and you don't have this go to your personal cell phone than obviously your child is getting and deleting these calls.

Schools are to provide educational services. They don't replace parents. Honestly, if your child is 15 and doesn't attend school you lost control over your child a long time ago. There are plenty of resources to get some help. Stop blaming the school and enabling your child. Own up to your own problem and your child's problems and go get some help.

Besides, the courts are busy dealing with other issues and rarely impose consequences anyway. When they do they are of little effect.

Let me ask this- If you work during the day and receive a phone call that your child is not at school what is your course of action? I'm guessing you expect everyone else to impose the consequences for your child.

One more thing. I have asked before why they did not call me, mail me. ( I have a post office box, so know one gets the mail but me.)
I asked them to show me where they called me, phone records. They never have, never will because they can't. They did not do it.

Lets not forget the school board president who was there said that when his son forgot to turn in a note from the doctor, he was marked unexcused. They never got a call either about him tech.being truant. So if the president of the school board does not get a call it shows it happens.

I was unable to attend the meeting last night but we have the same problem with our daughter. The same issue with the school. Our daughter is 15 and has made a habit of ditching when ever she feels like. Truant 7+ times this school year, and not one phone call or daily notice. I work during the day and leave the house before she goes to school and get back after school, so I depend on the school to inform us.

State law says they are suppose to.

It is good to know that now maybe something will change if the school now knows they could as well be pulled into court as the parents and students have to.

It is the law and they have been violating it for some time.