Texas? Still sucks.

May. 26th, 2012 at 1:27 PM

I haven't used my "Texas sucks" tag in several years, but this story gave me a reason to dust it off:

Judge sends honor student to jail for missing school

Did he warn her? Yes. However, I'd say that being abandoned by her parents and working two jobs to support herself, her brother (who's in college), and her younger sister qualifies as an extenuating circumstance, and the judge should be going after the irresponsible parents to take financial responsibility for their offspring, rather than punishing Tran. And she's still maintaining honor roll grades while taking AP and dual credit courses. Oh, wait, the judge's last name is Moriarty ... shouldn't he be out masterminding some archvillain plot against Sherlock Holmes instead of giving a hardworking teenager a criminal record?

Side note:

goodjoan, do you remember David Ferguson from UGA? I still have one of his songs on tape somewhere. Look at the bottom of the story! It's nice to know what he's doing these days.

Comments

( 10 comments — Leave a comment )

wytchcroft

May. 27th, 2012 06:53 am (UTC)

this is when i miss Daria.

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pointedview

May. 28th, 2012 12:49 am (UTC)

I never saw Daria, but read through the Wikipedia entry just now. Sounds like it was a fun show. :)

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wytchcroft

May. 28th, 2012 02:06 am (UTC)

it certainly was :)

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goodjoan

May. 27th, 2012 09:11 pm (UTC)

That's insane! Legally, she could quit school since she's over 16, but missing school gets her jail time...People are stupid

Sadly, this is also why I worry so much when my kids miss a ton of school! I don't want to be the parent that gets to be the 'example' and warning to others by getting an insane fine and jail time!

I don't think I knew David Ferguson, his name sounds familiar, but if I knew him, it was only in passing.

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wytchcroft

May. 28th, 2012 02:08 am (UTC)

i have worked in the past with Home Ed. groups here in the UK.
do they have have that sort of thing in the US??

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pointedview

May. 31st, 2012 01:09 am (UTC)

They do, but access and requirements relating to it can vary by state, as I understand it (I'm surely no expert).

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wytchcroft

May. 31st, 2012 06:34 am (UTC)

it's a complicated solution though, for sure, anywhere. a lot of pros and cons.

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pointedview

May. 31st, 2012 01:16 am (UTC)

Frankly, Joan, from some of the things you've described in your journal, I have the impression that, while perhaps well-intentioned, some of the school staffers you've encountered seem to be ... less than competent when it comes to discerning what's a real problem case in terms of truancy and what's a situation that will likely resolve itself. I understand that they are constantly bombarded, and are perhaps inclined to apply the rules equally to every single case to try to avoid charges of favoritism, but that's about their best interest, and not necessarily the best interest of the child, or recognizing him or her as an individual for whom a one-size-fits-all solution isn't going to be successful.

I commend you for your courage and your indefatigable determination in looking out for your children every single day. You are a caring, dedicated, hard-working parent, and I admire you for getting up every day. :)

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