Eliminating Truancy, or Indoctrinating Kids?
The title, Eliminating Truancy, or Indoctrinating Kids?, frames an argument against the trend in fighting truancy. Writer John Danz Jr. offers his perspective:
Lack of trust.
Scrutiny.
Excessive punishment.
Things that annoy youths. Things that motivate youths to rebel and stand out. One of those forms of rebellion is skipping school, of course.
I’m not old enough to know what the punishment for playing hooky from school back in the day was, but I’m assuming it wasn’t as stiff as it is today. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong there. In Texas where I spent my last two years in high school, if you had enough unexcused absences you would be reported to a truancy officer, who could in turn send you to court and have you fined. The fine, in turn, would motivate the truant student to stay in school.
Or, just drop out at 16.
~~~
Treating a truant student like a convict is not the way to motivate them. Period. Some of them you can’t save; you need to just let them make their decision and accept the resulting consequence.
Or, the resulting success.