New Haven Independent

Posted by: I Was A Student | February 2, 2007 10:33 AM

I went to Hamden High School and they were very strict about missing school. As I recall, if I had only one unexcused absence I would lose credit for every singly class I was taking. I could petition to get those credits back (once), but I had to get at least a C in each class.

I don't know if this would work everywhere, but it definitely worked for me. I might have skipped a class once or twice, but I dont think I ever skipped a full day school. I'm not necessarily advocating this approach. I wonder what effect this policy may have had on students who didn't put a high value on getting a diploma.

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | February 2, 2007 11:27 AM

Parents are the cause of and solution to all of our education "issues." Truancy will be curbed once parents actually start parenting. So if you're a parent and your child routinely skips out of school, guess what--you're responsible.

There should be a $50 fine charged to the parent of a student who is absent from school with no legitmate excuse.

Suck it up and do your job; that is, raise your kids and take responsibility.

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | February 2, 2007 4:51 PM

You know I love these meetings with the kids!! It is a very possitve thing for them to be part of these things. They want to feel that there thought matter. More things like this should also be in school.

I am with you Daniel in the fact that they need to help these parents that are not doing it right. The fact is some parents work more than one job to support there kids they need to learn how to juggle that kind of a life. Then there are just plain bad parents out there so on drugs some are not much older than there kids. Some came from home were they did not learn the parenting skills.
so it is important that the parents are educated if needed on how to be a parent.

I love the suggestions the kids made they are great.

my fav. is
“Every troubled kid in a school should have an outside advisor who can work with him.”

Posted by: daniel sumrall | February 3, 2007 12:08 PM

"an outside advisor who can work with him"--it's pitifully sad that this no longer means "parent."

let me be up front--most parents are nearly useless and an obstacle to education and safety, simply because most are incompetent. students should be treated like the pre-adults they are and the young adults they will become. The Hamden High commnet is useful because it puts the decision in the hands of the student instead of babying them.

we need a combination of parental punishment (fines) and student consequences (revocation of credit), not hugging or feeling sharing or big happy smiles. It's time New Haven got serious about something and stopped forming committees and commissions that only give the appearance of action and not the substance (Alder Shah, I'm looking in your direction).

Posted by: Gina | February 4, 2007 3:38 PM

Daniel,
Having worked in New Haven public schools, I am well aware of the truancy issues in the city. However, I am also well aware of how some parents are working themselves to the bone to support their children and to give their children a good life. At some point, children start making their own decisions. And the fact of the matter is, that one of those decisions that they're making is to skip school, regardless of how involved the parents are. I know this for a fact. Maybe instead of the parents having to pay for their children's crimes, the children themselves should. Everyone has to, at some point, realize the consequences of their actions. Why should children be handing those consequences over to their parents? So their parents will have to work overtime to cover for their children's mistakes? Because they're already working so hard they can't ensure that their children are actually going to school?
True, some parents just don't have a clue. But then there are those who are trying everything and are at their wit's end. If we are to treat these children as young adults, they need to FEEL the consequences of their actions. They won't feel it if attention goes to the parents.

Posted by: MARYROSARIO | March 17, 2007 9:06 AM

I ALSO WORK WITH ALOT OF KIDS IN FAIR HAVEN AND I TOTALLY SUPPORT GINA RESPONSE. I HAVE HEARD ALOT OF EXCUSES FROM KIDS LIKE OH MY MOTHER DOESNT CARE SO WHY SHOULD I? I DONT BELIEVE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PARENTS AND THEY JUST CANT MAKE THIER KIDS LISTEN BUT THEY TRY AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO SUPPORT THIER FAMILY.SO IT IS UP TO US IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE KIDS CARE ABOUT EDUCATION.ALOT OF KIDS DONT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR A NUMBER OF ISSUES WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHY AND HELP THEM THROUGH THEM.SO WE DO NEED PEOPLE TO HELP THE MORE THE BETTER AND WE COULD HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION IS THE ONLY KEY TO A CHILDS FUTURE.