During a
recent Truancy Court Program (“TCP”) team meeting, some law students expressed
frustration about the lack of parental involvement in the Truancy Court
Programs. Ideally parents should be at the table to discuss truancy with the
TCP team and their child each week. After working with students and hearing
their stories, however, I understand why many parents cannot attend.
It is often
said that truancy is just the “tip of the iceberg.” As such, the TCP model
provides resources that are intended to address the underlying issues that
result in truancy. Focusing on the result while ignoring the source is often
ineffective. In many cases parental input would help the TCP team name and
resolve the causes of a particular student’s truant behavior. Parents can
provide clarity and detail that their young children simply cannot, and lack of
parental input can be extremely frustrating for those of us trying to identify
and address the root of truancy. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that
these parents want the best for their children, even though they may not be in
a place to provide the best.
I struggle
with “absenteeism” in my personal life as well. I am a single mom of three, and
I am a full time law student. I often spend 15 hours or more at school each
day. During finals I have even less time to check my children’s homework, sign tests, or answer
emails from teachers. Despite fitting the highly organized, typical law student
“Type A” personality almost perfectly, my schedule is almost always out of
synch with my children’s schedule. I miss music recitals and chaperoning school
trips. Thanksgiving, which was once my favorite family holiday, is so consumed
with preparation for my final exams, that I usually just pick up carryout. My ex-husband
enjoys the large family meal with our children with the hope that Thanksgiving
can be in my home again after I graduate.
I have a
large network of support to help my family during law school, and I still struggle
to find equilibrium between my education and my children’s education. Even with
a bevy of resources at my disposal, it can be extremely difficult to make sure
that the individuals with whom my children interact at school know that they
have an invested parent rooting for them at home. As an “absentee” parent
myself, I empathize with parents who also struggle with this balance. This is especially
true when I discover that they are faced with a lack of resources, including
homelessness, unaddressed substance abuse, lack of reliable transportation,
households run by single parents, and limited employment and childcare options.
I want my
children to succeed and do well regardless of whether I miss their school
functions, and I absolutely believe that this is true for TCP parents, as well.
It is extremely frustrating when there is a lack of parental involvement. The most productive approach, however, is to
start with the premise that all parents want the best for their children; some
may lack the supports that are necessary to provide the best. As long as the TCP
remains committed to building strengths for parents and students alike,
regardless of whether parental participation reaches ideal levels, the TCP will
continue to effectively combat truancy by addressing the issues beneath the tip
of the iceberg.