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Parents Serve Detention With Tardy Student

Very interesting story that shows that as 'adults' we also must recognize when is our fault....

From CNN.com

PEARLAND, Texas (AP) -- Susan and Steven Manis say it was their fault their daughter was late for school so they shared her punishment -- spending an hour with her in detention.

The couple says their 13-year-old daughter, Jessica Dunkley, was being unfairly punished for being late six times in October and November when the family's van wouldn't start.

So when administrators insisted the Pearland Junior High School East seventh-grader would have to spend an hour in detention, they decided to go with her.

"We're more at fault than she is," said Susan Manis, who had appealed the administration's decision.

After the punishment was over, Jessica said it was "a little embarrassing" to have her mom and stepfather in detention with her. But, she said, "I'm proud of them for sticking up for what they believe in."...

https://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/01/07/pa...n.ap/index.html

Student Tardy Detention Serve Parents

Yikes! I am in big trouble then. My special needs son starts school at 8:00 and with all of the medications he takes he is like the dead in the morning. It is sooo hard to wake him up. Because he is in a special needs classroom, his school is pretty far away so he is late often. The school does know the situation though. If we had him take the bus they would be picking him up around 6:30 AM! That means being completely ready by 6 :30. We don't wake him up until 7:00. I don't know if they would even give detentions for being tardy to a special needs student though. Hmmmm, maybe I will ask the school. On second thought, never mind, I don't want to give them any ideas.

Parents Serve Detention With Tardy Student History & Civil Business Politics

I think it's rediculous to punish a student for being tardy for reasons outside of their control. If a car won't start, then it's not her, or her parents' fault. I do commend her parents for sticking up for their daughter and taking responsibility as well.

Had I been her parent, I would have written the Superintendant and brought my concern to him. When a parent goes to a principal and explains a situation such as that, yet the principal was still set on punishing this student, that's a problem in my eyes.

That's my two cents.

Student Tardy Detention Serve Parents

I can see this 2 ways. It is good to see parents stepping up and taking some ownership in what has gone wrong. While in this they should be commended, but shouldnt they have taken that hour of detention and gotten the car fixed?

I also am interested in what forms of transportation this school had for students. Having gone to a fairly large highschool in Missouri, I know that a bus came 2 blocks away from our house every school day. If you lived close enough to walk, then you walked or your parents drove you to school. If this child lived close enough to walk, shouldnt they have realized that the family car isnt too reliable and maybe taken some initiative to get to school by themselves? I know days when I missed the bus (6 miles from school), I rode my bicycle and made it by the first bell.

Just a thought,

Vincenzo

Student Tardy Detention Serve Parents

Well, one thing to consider is perhaps the child is out of zone for the school. With four high schools around here, our zoning is very strict; however, if a child is part of a special program that is only offered at that school, then they are allowed to attend, provided they're transportation is provided.

There's nothing in the article that suggests that the vehicle was necessarily a bad vehicle either. Sometimes brand new cars break down out of the blue. Me personally, I have a junker for a car, so I always try to provide break down time. If a person has a nice car, then they tend not to think about things like that. Granted, the vehicle broke down multiple times, and the parents should have contacted a teacher or the principal after the first couple times to bring it to his/her attention.

Plus, you can't really expect children to take that sort of initiative if they are usually dependent upon their parents.

Parents Serve Detention With Tardy Student

I am not so sure...maybe my parents hardened me. I always thought that it was at this time of life when kids are wanting a bit of their own independence and more responsibility. In Jr Highschool, a student has very little that they are truly responsible for except going to school, doing homework, participation in sports (if they choose) and perhaps some sort of job. I would like to think that more students would take some responsibility in a situation like this instead of just saying "oh the car couldnt start, sorry".

In the school I went to, they had a rule just like this. When you got close to a letter went home to the parents. What I really wonder is if the parents are constantly late for work as well? Were they that far away from others that they couldnt have arranged for a neighbor to help?

To be honest, I believe that all public schools must provide transportation (in US) for students that live outside of a certain (walking) distance of the school. I would love to know how far away this student lived from the highschool.

Just a thought,

Vincenzo

Parents Serve Detention Tardy Student

This isn't true, at least not for free. In Massachusetts more than one community has begun charging for bus service. In New Hampshire, back when I was in High School, (a very long time ago) High School students had to pay to ride the bus.

What I wonder is if there was another issue that caused the school principal to be less inclined to work with the parents. Not fair, but still possible. I have seen situations where someone isn't liked and so what they do isn't tolerated, even if others would be allowed to get away with the same behavior. Certainly at face value, it doesn't seem right. Of course, this could have been the principal's way of insisting the vehicle be fixed. Yet, it is possible this family doesn't have the funds to fix the vehicle.

Edited: tenaheff on 11th Jan, 2005 - 6:37pm

Parents Serve Detention Tardy Student Politics Business Civil & History

I feel that it wasn't necessary to give that child the suspension because I do not believe it was her fault. I don't believe that the daughter had any responsibility in what happened, except that it would have been good if she started thinking of how she could get to school. But if she didn't come up with any solution I don't hold her accountable for the situation. I have been in this situation before, where my car didn't start. I think a lot of people have had this happen to them, maybe too many times for some, but I know that I want to be greeted in the office with just a little bit of understanding.

When this has happened to me in the past, either the neighborhood parents are gone dropping their children off or someone may be willing to help, but it takes them a few minutes for them to get ready to go, hence my child is late anyway, even though I did the best that I could. My children go to 3 different schools and it is difficult to get everyone there on time; they start at 8:00, 8:30, and 9:00. The first school is pretty far away, and it takes 20 minutes each way. I barely get my daughter to school on time next, and then I don't have much time at all to take care of my 6 year old, to help him get ready for school. Some of you may say to just get up earlier and start then, but it is very hard for my children, and nearly impossible for my one son. My point here is that sometimes people do have legitimate reasons for having their children to school late. My husband is never late to work, we are not late going other places. I am grateful that the schools here understand my situation and work with me. I hope this doesn't sound like a bunch of excuses, because I don't want to do that. This is all just my opinion.