Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080039
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOITA FERGUSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I'm a single working mother who lives in Roanoke County. My 15-year-old son started skipping school early in the school year with some friends who knew the ropes and taught him all the tricks. In the beginning, William Byrd High School didn't notify me of his absence until after lunch, so my son was with his friends - who knows where and doing who knows what.
As school officials and I became more familiar, we would contact each other to try and locate him. Luckily, I have my own business and could go looking for him. But these kids (skippers) know the system, and know where to hide.
When other parents don't care, school systems shut their eyes, and because the court system is slow, these kids get the message that they don't have to answer to anyone. Therefore, they lose all respect for any kind of authority, including their parents'.
I worked with the school very hard to try and straighten out my son. I believe in education, and went so far as to have my son escorted to and from his classes for five months. That didn't help. Somehow in this society, children believe that they can do what they wish with no bad consequences.
Maybe all the media attention on child abuse is part of the cause. I have actually heard children threaten to report their parents for abuse if the children are punished for their misbehavior. Do we as caring parents have to fear our children because of a system that thinks any type of disciplinary action is child abuse? I was brought up believing that if your parents cared, you were corrected and taught good moral values.
It all comes down to lack of respect, lack of discipline or lack of responsibility in the schools and homes. Roanoke County's school system needs to follow some of Roanoke city's new programs. It needs to keep the child in school. Instead of out-of-school detention (which is what the child wants), have them do community work. Parents can sign a release to let the child pick up trash or do other forms of manual work. Teach these kids responsibility, and show them early that there are consequences to pay for skipping school.
We as taxpayers should insist that more people like Toby Bobbitt, a Youth Experiencing Success counselor at Patrick Henry High School, are hired instead of funds being cut. Also, why not pay the unemployed a fee to spot skippers and report them to the proper people. Neighborhoods could develop a co-op to call mothers and schools when a child is suspected of skipping school. What happened to the old-fashioned truant officer?
Police departments say they're not baby sitters, but yet complain about all the juvenile delinquency in the Roanoke Valley. Why can't the police department pull the licenses of older teen-agers and/or adults who provide transportation and/or a place to hide for skippers? Yes, it does happen. I speak from experience.
Why is there not some type of program in the county like the Drop-In School? Of course, some people will scream that we don't have the money for it, but we have to think of the overall future expense of not keeping these children in school. Older buildings could be put to use and not demolished. If Roanokers can pull together to save Hotel Roanoke, aren't our children worth the effort of saving - for their future and the valley's, too? After all, taxpayers pay for the upkeep of all those kids in overcrowded detention homes - my son included.
Why fine or jail parents if a child skips school? Do you think children care if their parents are locked up? If kids cared or respected their parents to begin with, they wouldn't be in trouble. This just gives them freer reign or another chance to con an adult.
I'm tired of everyone blaming parents for their children's actions. Granted, some parents don't care or are too lenient. But there are those like me who work with the schools and judicial system, and still don't know what to do.
The question is not where did we go wrong, but what do we do about it now?
Joita Ferguson, of Vinton, is co-owner and manager of a custom picture-framing business.
by CNB