The school sent countless warnings, it just was not a letter or two. But a multitude of steps from tough love to counseling. What was not there was the 100% from the parent and student. In elementary the teachers used to say that successful schooling was a three was street. A collaboration between teacher, student, and parent. If one is missing than the whole ecosystem is liable to go down. Just by reading the article it is easy to spot that here the student and parents where not giving it their all.
On the fifth paragraph Vanessa is quoted saying that shes going to TRY and go to school if they will let her mom go free. And this time she means it. She does not mean it. Instead of saying "I will" she says "I'm willing to really try." She could totally be a politician. Maybe I'm being insensitive about her health troubles. But I have been exposed to those cases before. The difference is they reached for help. I come from a house where you make sacrifices for the good of the family. If it means counseling to: give up smoking or dealing with schizophrenia than you do it. Not because we are stronger but because separating a family because someone does not want to "deal with it" is not an option. She put herself a head of the rest with out caring until now.
Toward the end of the article there is mention of an agency that can help Vanessa ,located near her house. If the parents had not give up they would have found it a lot sooner. I can not really blame them though. they tried to reach to their daughter. she just did not answer back.
It is not called a last resort for anything. She still has family like her grandfather and older sister. Maybe now she will ACTUALLY give it her all
This article amazed me. I've never heard of such a thing before, a fifth grade drop out! it saddens me to hear that. What kind of parents are they? Their daughter clearly needed counseling, and there must be a reason why she dislikes school so much. Who knows maybe she has a hidden learning disability, and just has never been tested. Special education might be a good option for Vanessa. Great article choice!
ReplyDeleteYou know i really do find it sad that the real victim is the Dad. I'm sure the parents gave the girl countless talks about going to school, but ultimately when you think about it, the final choice is really up to the child. The child obviously had a sense of what was going on because after her Dad went to jail she tried to get him out of it by saying she would "try" to go back to school. it's a shame really. but nonetheless she must learn from her mistakes.
ReplyDeleteby the way i knew that your parents could go to jail for truency from school but this is the first actual case ive heard of where it actually happened