PIC Current

The problem is becoming very severe in some places, like Dallas, Texas. According to the New York Times, schools officials there have begun making problem students wear monitoring devices. Much like the ankle bracelets worn by some convicts on parole, the monitoring devices allow schools and law enforcement to locate students when they fail to show up for school.

This may seem a bit extreme to some, but it is helping some students who frequently skipped school in the past. The report says Jaime Pacheco, a 15-year-old freshman, was failing most of his classes due to his poor attendance. Since having to wear the device, he has had perfect attendance.

Saratoga Springs City School District is employing a different approach. According to the Daily Gazette, parents of problem students are being told they are at risk for arrest for “endangering a child’s welfare”. So far, no one has been locked up, but the school district says it has received positive results in all of the 139 reported cases.

The solutions in these cases may seem extreme, but the problem is huge and has big impacts on our future. Los Angeles County of Education claims that truancy can be one of the most reliable predictors of delinquency. Many police departments around the nation have found that the large majority of students skipping school are on the streets, more susceptible to committing crimes such as vandalism, graffiti and shoplifting.

When a student misses out on class time, they can often become more likely to struggle with their overall achievement skills, hurting their odds of graduating and seeking gainful employment in the future.

Parents need to know where their kid is and help schools keep them in school. I know many parents work multiple jobs and struggle to find time with their kids. But here are some easy things parents can do to help their child stay in school:

1. Visit with the student’s teachers, get to know them and let them know how much you care about your kid doing well.
2. Regularly check on your student’s grades and attendance report
3. Make sure the school knows how to reach you if your child fails to show up for school.

We have to be careful not to cross certain lines when we as a society try to stop kids from skipping school. But we should be creative in our approaches and do what we can to solve a very big problem. However, parents must take the lead.

It’s not just about the short-term problems kids can get into. It’s really about their future.