sOKaLiBoY
02-08-2005, 12:53 PM
Parents Arrested for Poor Student Attendance
By Bill Proctor
Web produced by Christine Lasek
February 7, 2005
Some parents on Detroit’s west side were hauled into court because their children weren't showing up for school. Prosecutors say that they warned the parents first, and now they are taking more extreme measures.
The parents were lead away in handcuffs Monday morning, under arrest for failing to appear in 36th District court on the charge of parental school truancy.
Some of the parents claimed that they and their children were innocent, while other parents had explanations.
One arrested mother, who wished to keep her identity concealed, told 7 Action News, "She was out ill. I did write a note. I started keeping a copy for myself, so I had no problems, you know. Here it is, almost 3 years later, and they’re saying I received a letter in the mail that there was an outstanding warrant for my arrest."
Chief Charles Mitchell, of Detroit Public Safety, told 7 Action News, "They’re not irate, but everyone has a reason or an excuse for it. They’re not happy, because they realize that when they got here that there were going through a legal process."
Parents who turned themselves in Monday not only got a free ride to the Wayne Co. jail, but they saved themselves the embarrassment that other parents will face when they are arrested at home or on their job.
Sylvia Halloyfield is from the District Department of Attendance for Detroit Public Schools. She explained to 7 Action News, "And as we tried to work with them and their families, it is just not sunk in yet that attendance is necessary for improving student achievement."
The warning is out that the district is cracking down on children who don’t attend school, and the parents who don’t keep up with the children.
http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_3529418,00.html
By Bill Proctor
Web produced by Christine Lasek
February 7, 2005
Some parents on Detroit’s west side were hauled into court because their children weren't showing up for school. Prosecutors say that they warned the parents first, and now they are taking more extreme measures.
The parents were lead away in handcuffs Monday morning, under arrest for failing to appear in 36th District court on the charge of parental school truancy.
Some of the parents claimed that they and their children were innocent, while other parents had explanations.
One arrested mother, who wished to keep her identity concealed, told 7 Action News, "She was out ill. I did write a note. I started keeping a copy for myself, so I had no problems, you know. Here it is, almost 3 years later, and they’re saying I received a letter in the mail that there was an outstanding warrant for my arrest."
Chief Charles Mitchell, of Detroit Public Safety, told 7 Action News, "They’re not irate, but everyone has a reason or an excuse for it. They’re not happy, because they realize that when they got here that there were going through a legal process."
Parents who turned themselves in Monday not only got a free ride to the Wayne Co. jail, but they saved themselves the embarrassment that other parents will face when they are arrested at home or on their job.
Sylvia Halloyfield is from the District Department of Attendance for Detroit Public Schools. She explained to 7 Action News, "And as we tried to work with them and their families, it is just not sunk in yet that attendance is necessary for improving student achievement."
The warning is out that the district is cracking down on children who don’t attend school, and the parents who don’t keep up with the children.
http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_3529418,00.html