The Observation Deck

Grace O'Malley wrote:"We have a few chronic truants"

So deal with them! What's the problem? State law allows you not only to take the child, but the parents to court. The parents can be fined $500, as well.

You need yet another law to handle the "problem?"

And Ivor, that's one thing you'll learn. The older you get, the less accurate your memory. No one seems to remember their high school years. Maybe a bit foggy from the smoky haze, eh?

I can't speak for you, but I remember them really well. I spent my afternoons and weekends editing photos. True story. Something like, 200 hours my junior year went to the LO project.

But I'll give you this. I hated rules while I was in high school, but now that I've been out I see how easy the administration takes it on the kids, rules wise. So now I'm lobbying for harder rules, just to make the kids more miserable. When you're in the real world, Mayor FitzGerald makes the rules. And those ain't easy, and being miserable is the only thing you know.

Ed FitzGerald wrote:Jim-

His quote makes sense to me. He's saying that we have a few chronic truants, not mass numbers of kids skipping out. This law would help us deal with those truants he is referring to- repeat offenders who, coincidentally or not, tend to have alot of interaction with the police department.

Mayor FitzFerald

I never claimed to be the sharpest pencil in the box. But why the hub-bub over a few.

I do like the idea that it will take the "reasons" into account. Reminds me of the program Judge Carroll has been working on to keep alcoholics and drug addicts out of the county prison, until evaluated and processed.

Again thanks for the time.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote: I never claimed to be the sharpest pencil in the box. But why the hub-bub over a few.
.

Jim,

a few hippies turn into 10 local newspapers and a national buzz.

and also,
It only takes a few students to climb onto the civic roof and make everyone wonder what kind of seeds Johnny is really planting. Granted, they'd have to be smart and motivated, like our advanced students are these days. Probably not hippies.

Something like, 200 hours my junior year went to the LO project.

You will never get those 200 hours back

PS Did they at least pay you minimum wage?

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Something like, 200 hours my junior year went to the LO project.

You will never get those 200 hours back

PS Did they at least pay you minimum wage?

Stephen,

I could drop out of college and start my own business in a second and be very successful. But I'd rather get a degree first.

So to answer your question, I've gotten those hours back, and no, they didn't pay me minimum wage. I still pay myself $40 an hour.

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Something like, 200 hours my junior year went to the LO project.

You will never get those 200 hours back

PS Did they at least pay you minimum wage?

Oh and let me remind you that I'm young enough to be your son.


FWIW.

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Something like, 200 hours my junior year went to the LO project.

You will never get those 200 hours back

PS Did they at least pay you minimum wage?

Oh and let me remind you that I'm young enough to be your son.


FWIW.

I am old enough to be your grandpa.

Jim,

The truancy data Dr. Estrop shared with Board Members at our last board meeting shows 209 instances of students being requested for an expulsion hearing for truancy and delinquency during the 2007-2008 school year (121 and 88 respectively). The Administration states that some requests may include the same students.

To review an updated report, please click here.

The Administration states that the data is low during the first part of the 2008-2009 school year because most instances of truancy and delinquency arise in the second part of the school year based upon past experience.

If anyone has any questions about the data, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Estrop directly.

Matt

I still pay myself $40 an hour.

it works better when some one else is paying you the $40 an hour..

Stephen Eisel wrote:

I still pay myself $40 an hour.

it works better when some one else is paying you the $40 an hour..

That's what I meant, but my edit button is missing.

“expulsion hearing for truancy....â€￾

Huh? I must be losing my mind....

And as far fetched as that is, even more ridiculous is the notion that our one-size-fits-all traditional educational system is so important and beneficial that ALL high-school-age children should be forced through it. You know the system I'm talking about, the one that spends endless hours diagramming sentences, factoring binomials and the like, in preparation for a career in a cubicle somewhere. Well maybe some people would rather fix cars or clean chimneys or even wash dishes....

We need to reform our educational system and fast.

My feelings aside on this truancy law, but what happens to home schooled kids? Are they going to be arrested if they aren't at home until 3?

What about private school kids with a day off?

Does anyone actually think that the high school kids are going to respond well to this? Trust me from experience, it's just another annoying rule like the hoodie ban that students will find a way to break. Except now, they are being threatened with a misdemeanor.

Personally, I wonder what will happen to a 7 year old cutting class.

Just curious how much this new law is going to cost the city and the schools?

And Thealexa, I believe there are exceptions for home schooled children, but how do the police know they are homeschooled? I think there is probably a registry through the school system but I could be wrong.

There are ALREADY laws in place to deal with chronic truancy.

Why would the police be better equipped to handle this if the school system and the juvenile courts cannot?

What would stop a cop right now from walking up to a wandering or loitering kid and finding out that they are absent from school?

Why do we need a NEW LAW to do what we already should be doing?

Why are we ASSUMING that any kid out in public from the hours of 8 to 3 is a truant?

I resent the fact that juveniles are being targeted as if they a re a huge problem. During the last curfew debate, it was clearly shown that juvenile crime is down and that juveniles do not commoit the majority of crimes.