The
Truancy Court Program run by the Center for Families, Children, and the Courts
uses therapeutic jurisprudence and preventive law to address the issue of
truancy. Through this approach, teachers (and/or other school officials),
judges, volunteers, mentors, and parents work together to help students
overcome obstacles that lead to excessive absences. When we punish students, we don’t eradicate
the reason behind their truancy, thus setting them up for an endless cycle of
absences and punishments.
Truancy programs are in effect in other
states. However, the programs are run differently within each state to address
the underlying problems that are unique to every school, district, or county. For
example, Kanawha County, West Virginia has taken a very different approach, where
a student who refuses to attend school can be removed from his or her home and
put in a shelter. Placement in a shelter is a last resort, only used when a
student refuses to attend school. Prior to that step, the circuit court system,
school officials, social agencies, and parents work together to help students overcome
attendance issues. In Kanawha County, after a student has had five unexcused
absences, parents receive a legal notice from the school system, and a meeting
is scheduled with the student, parents, and the County Magistrate. Then, the
student has a court hearing and is put on probation. The student is only put in
a shelter after all these steps are taken and the student has still refused to
attend school.
Not all students will benefit from
the Truancy Court Program. Many might disregard the effort that others, such as
parents, teachers, judges, etc., are putting in for them. Kanawha County’s
answer to these students is taking them from their homes and putting them
wherever space is available. Many problems can arise out of this situation:
children who are in more need of shelters can be left out because truants are
taking over the shelters’ resources, which is an issue within itself. Other
problems occur when the truants are taken away from their families,
communities, and schools and put in an unfamiliar environment. They may also
fall behind in schools because of different curriculums – which may lead to
more absences, placing the student in a never-ending cycle of truancy.
Students who have excessive absences
may fall behind in school or drop out altogether. Those who drop out of school
can end up becoming involved in illegal activities or in jail. Therefore, truancy programs are important and
helpful to students in most situations. Unfortunately, there are students, such
as the ones being addressed in Kanawha County, West Virginia, who will not want
to or be able to benefit from truancy programs. Placing them in shelters may
scare them into changing their habits, but doing so may also harm other
children (who are in need of shelter services), as well as put more obstacles
in the truants’ paths, preventing them from attending classes and undermining
the objectives of the truancy program.
West Virginia has implemented a statewide
effort to battle truancy. A 2012 survey report from the state (link below)
shows that the truancy initiatives have resulted in a reduction in the number
of absences from school and an improvement in school achievements, among other successes.
Read about West
Virginia’s Truancy Program & the survey report:
Read about
Kanawha County’s truancy initiative:
Posts
I agree that Truancy Court Programs (TCP) are beneficial for many students in the school systems. TCP seeks to address the underlying problems that take place in a student's life outside of school. Once these problems are revealed, members of the TCP team can provide students with the necessary support and services that will hopefully help cure their truant behavior.
ReplyDeleteAfter working as a member of a TCP team for several weeks now, I do not believe shelters should be the last resort in resolving the truancy problem that faces many of our students. In fact, shelters avoid rather than address the problems that are the reason behind truancy. What will happen after these students leave the shelters? I personally do not feel as if anything will be accomplished from sending students to shelters other than forcing students to attend school. That does not solve the underlying problem. The article states that "the purpose of emergency shelters is to provide a supportive environment for children reeling from family dysfunction, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, the loss of family or a failed placement in a foster home." There are other ways to provide students with supportive environments other than removing them from their own homes. Perhaps schools could provide students with the appropriate support either through guidance counselors/social workers or after school programs that help students realize there are people who care about their education and future.
This was an interesting read. I believe that truancy court programs are beneficial. But I think the way it is implemented is what determines the positive outcome for truant students. By placing a student in a shelter (even if it is a last resort option) it may detract from the point of getting the student involved with the truancy court program, which is to stop and prevent truant behavior. Perhaps providing another alternative to home removal may be advantageous for those involved with the truancy court program in West Virginia. As you mentioned in your post punishing students does not eradicate the behavior. But perhaps getting the student to understand the consequences of their behavior and making them take control in remedying the situation will be better. Only time will tell.
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