Parents not sending their children to school

[MummaBear03]

What do you think should happen? My neighbours didn't get their money from the Smith Family charity this year because the children only attended school an average of 30% last year. Pretty much the only time they went is when the police picked them up and took them to school. They have a car, and they use the local public school which is only a 10 minute walk anyway.

So what do you think should happen to parents who don't make sure their kids get to school? Their youngest is in year 1 and we're in week 5, she's only been to school for 4 days so far.

[WorkingClassMum]

It's a form of neglect.

If DOCs/DHS cannot educate the parents, then stop the FTA/B and all parenting related payments and remove the kids until the parents understand the necessity of school or are registered properly for home schooling.

[nothanksbye]

Thats so sad.

They are not home schooling are they?

I just dont understand why a parent would stop a child from getting an education.

Personally I think it is a basic right and a parent who denies that to a child, should be fined.

[JabberJaw]

Gosh i cant imagine keeping my kids home, i love it when they go to school :smiliedance::laughing: (jokes)

Seriously shouldnt the school be calling DOC's or the like? I am pretty sure they do, i got busted wagging an entire term in high school coz the school dobbed me in, my poor parents were shocked.

[Pinkzy]

Thats so sad.

They are not home schooling are they?

I just dont understand why a parent would stop a child from getting an education.

Personally I think it is a basic right and a parent who denies that to a child, should be fined.

:iagree:

My friend has been letting her child take more and more days off school lately, basically because her 6 year old just "doesn't feel like going" or because my friend wants to include her in what she's doing.

For example - Last week she let her child have the day off so she could come over here to visit me with her mum. Sorry, I love her kid and all, but I found this to be completely unacceptable and irresponsible on all levels. There was no need for her child to have the day off school for such a silly reason and it's happening more and more for very similar reasons to last week's :no:

If there is no good reason, kids should be at school and if the parents don't enforce this then the penalties should be as harsh as possible. It's not fair to deny a child an education for any reason.

[crazymuma]

My cousins kids have a crazy amount of time off. She says they are sick but they will be tearing around on bikes, swimming, playing with friends etc. They never have doctors certificates.

They also have many days off cause she couldn't be bothered to get them ready.

Then there are the days when one is actually sick so she keeps the others at home as well.

Most of the times its just laziness as she hates getting them ready, dropping them off then picking them up again. She hates homework and rarely sits down with them to do it - they can go weeks without doing any cause she doesn't make them - usually only does when the teachers complain.

Last year one of her children had 96 days off!!

This year they have already had 7 days off!!

No one says anything to her about it!!

[MummaBear03]

Gosh i cant imagine keeping my kids home, i love it when they go to school :smiliedance::laughing: (jokes)

Seriously shouldnt the school be calling DOC's or the like? I am pretty sure they do, i got busted wagging an entire term in high school coz the school dobbed me in, my poor parents were shocked.

Yeah the school do get onto the police, because every now and then the police turn up and take the kids to school.

No they're not homeschooling, if they were homeschooling that would be different. They just don't wanna get out of bed to get the kids to school. The 6 year old can't talk well, she's very delayed and by not going to school she's not only missing out on an education, she's also missing out on the help she needs with her problems. She was over here at 1pm today knocking on the door saying "ten [DD] pay?" which was asking "can [dd] play" but she's very bad with her speech and also other areas. She stands up after being on the swing and she's wet herself while she's there. I sent her home and she came back in the same clothes so I sent her home again and told her to tell her mother she needs new clothes on. She came back in the same clothes, still wet, and I asked if she told her mother. She said "Dot dese" and pulled her shorts out and showed me her knickers. I asked if they were clean knickers and she nodded. So she had clean knickers on, but wet shorts put back on! So yeah, she has delays that are not being seen to because the school can't help if she's not going and the parents aren't doing anything.

[Chunkydunks]

That's really sad. I'd honestly be considering calling docs if I was in your shoes. The childs needs obviously aren't being met.

[CazHazKidz]

that makes me so sad :no:

Those poor children. The poor little girl.

They need to be at school so they don't grow up and end up like their parents!

[Mrs Nietzsche]

Yeah I think it's neglect. Obviously the kids aren't being prepared adequately for life and will pretty much be doomed to shyte jobs, lack of opportunities etc.

I am surprised there hasn't been some kind of intervention?

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

I don't think they should be fined nor have money with held because this will just cause more disadvantage for the children.

I do think the government should step in.

[luv2shop]

This makes me sad where education is so readily available to our children and can't even speak their first language properly....
People in lesser developed countries would love to have the same opportunties as us.....you're mad to deny or not care abt your child's education. It's appalling.

[MummaBear03]

Yeah I think it's neglect. Obviously the kids aren't being prepared adequately for life and will pretty much be doomed to shyte jobs, lack of opportunities etc.

I am surprised there hasn't been some kind of intervention?

They've had quite a lot of involvement with DoCS in the last few years, but nothing has changed :confused:

[bellabubba]

It makes me so sad hearing stories like this. Is there some way you can speak to the school or police yourself (without the family knowing)? Maybe they can push DoCS a bit harder to do something about it. I wish I knew what the process was to make situations like this a priority.

These children are having their basic rights neglected and definitely need some form of intervention to meet their needs, especially when you have a primary age child displaying those signs. :(

[bellabubba]

I also don't believe that taking away their payments will benefit the children only hinder their ability to feed and look after them. There has to be another way to support families like this and get them to take their children to school.

[Veritas]

That is so so sad for those children MB....

It is most definitely a form of neglect, and by the sounds of the impact on the children a very serious one....

So what are the parents reasoning for not sending them to school?

Is this the same family that is getting full benefits, in public housing and working cash in hand??

I was under the impression not enrolling and non attendance of children at school was cause for Centrelink to quarantine a percentage of payments until it's rectified.....

If it were my neighbour I would certainly give DoCs a call for a chat at the very least, esp with the young girls delays.....

I'd also be inclined to call Centrelink and ask what the go is, and if it is the same family that are rorting the system I'd be inclined to dob them in....

Perhaps a swift "kick in the proverbial" and shake up is what they need to get their lives in order and actually give their children a chance at a decent future....

[Basil]

This makes me mad/sad! How do you stop the cycle? The poor kids are being taught that education isn't a priority and laziness is. <br />
<br /

As a teacher it's so hard to help. We only get the kids for 25 hours a week- if they come. There is so much support in school too with guidance officers, youth workers etc but the kids have to be there to get the help. <br />
<br />
I can't see an answer to the problem as it's ultimately up to the parents to parent. Quite depressing really.

[Mum2Mimi]

sounds like neglect to me ild call docs

[lulu 2]

heres one person that got done for not sending his kids to school. http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/hans-ulrich-meier-fined-over-kids-truancy/story-e6frg13u-1225826869185 but then my sils kids hardly go and she has nothing done to her because she comes up with pathetic excuses and this bloke got done because he came out and said he wasn't going to make his kids go to school.

[Pixie]

I wasn't sent to school as a child, reason "there was no point" I finally went to school age 13 as my parents divorced and I was in the way.

I have since learned it's actually abuse of a basic human right to a education. It's a very serious matter and really as the police already know then they could collaborate with the school and speak to social services.

Who knows they could be very un-educated people themselves and not realise the importance of actually having a schooling at home or at school.

Hopefully someone will help them all out soon

[Cicho]

that makes me so sad :no:

Those poor children. The poor little girl.

They need to be at school so they don't grow up and end up like their parents!


:yes: :iagree:

[meggs]

Definately neglect, it is a basic necessity that isnt being met...but what can you do? Docs and police are already onto it...Im not sure what the solution would be..if parents dont value education then the kids wont and arent likely to ask to go to school...

[~BEXTER~]

I think the kids should be taken off them, Kids need to go to school to prepart them for the world so they can have a chance to make it.

My friend didn't sent her boy to school, because she was always sleeping in or didn't have money for a bus but refused to moved him to a closer school.

Even when he did go she never had food for him so the teacher would pack him a lunch, it was very sad.

She lost custody of all 3 kids a year ago and has not done anything to try and get them back.

[WorkingClassMum]

I don't think they should be fined nor have money with held because this will just cause more disadvantage for the children.

I do think the government should step in.


I also don't believe that taking away their payments will benefit the children only hinder their ability to feed and look after them. There has to be another way to support families like this and get them to take their children to school.

To many of these 'parents', the ONLY pain they feel is to withhold money.

Tha answer is simple - send your kids to school and the money gets paid...

[whatwasithinking]

All benefits should be ceased immediatly if they are not sending children to school because they just don't want to.

Maybe there is a reason though why she isn't at school. Before we jump up and down maybe the family have reason?

[bronny-jane]

i kept mine home for a few days last year after my mum died, i wanted the girls to be involved in everything.

mine sometimes try to get a day off... but i love it when they arent here..so does dd3:D

[MrsTwith3]

Its appalling to withold an education from your kids.
I agree on stopping all payments till they are attending school at an acceptable amount of time. Unfortunately too many people value money more than an education for their kids and this would be one of the best ways to ensure they went to school. If that didnt work I would think having the children placed into care with people who would allow the children their basic rights to an educaton would be best.

[mum2bubba]

The parents should be fined and child protection should become involved. It's neglect.

[motherev2two]

Im not big on the docs thing but this made me so sad Id call them honestly

[MummaBear03]

Definately neglect, it is a basic necessity that isnt being met...but what can you do? Docs and police are already onto it...Im not sure what the solution would be..if parents dont value education then the kids wont and arent likely to ask to go to school...

That's right, the police and DoCS are already involved and the school has obviously called them in because I don't know who else would have. The only reason they don't send them is because much of the time they don't get out of bed until after lunch and it's too late to send them to school then.

Veritas: It's the same people. They are fully on benefits but she's on disability payment and he's on carer's payment and carer's allowance for her. The reason they switched over is because Parenting Payment Partnered cuts off when the youngest is 6, and their youngest is now 6. She didn't want to be moved onto NewStart and have to look for work. I don't know how she got onto Disability payment because she's fully able bodied.

[Lemonhead]

What is this Smith Family thing and can they pay for my uni books? :laughing:

[Chunkydunks]

If the mental issues (anxiety, depressiona nd the likes) are bad enough they can get onto DSP. But carers I don't understand. I can't get carers for DH and he actually needs me to do a fair bit for him but because he can shower and dress himself and get his own food they see it as him not needing a carer.

[threechooks]

. She didn't want to be moved onto NewStart and have to look for work. I don't know how she got onto Disability payment because she's fully able bodied.

Would you believe mild anxiety and or illnesses resulting from the withdrawal or addiction to drugs are classified as disability, if a GP agrees. (easy to get) Paranoia as a result of cannabis use is also classifeid as a disability for the purposes of the disability pension :rolleyes:

[Little Gorilla]

Maybe you could ring the school directly?

Maybe the school could offer some sort of support by way of having someone pick the kids up in the morning, giving them breakie at school - maybe even supply lunch for them, after school care for getting homework done?

Who knows? It's worth a try for the kids.

[MummaBear03]

Maybe you could ring the school directly?

Maybe the school could offer some sort of support by way of having someone pick the kids up in the morning, giving them breakie at school - maybe even supply lunch for them, after school care for getting homework done?

Who knows? It's worth a try for the kids.

That's a great idea, I'll give the school a call next week and find out what they can do. They have one in year 8 and one in year 7 and they are 2 very important years. They have another one in year 4 and one in year 1. The 15 year old is doing a full time traineeship so she doesn't go to school. She was the same though. Lucky her live-in, 21 year old boyfriend is there for her!

[FionaV]

The school system should have a process in place for dealing with chronic non-attenders. The school I teach at has problems with non-attendance, and we regularly liaise with the Home School Liaison Officer at District Office to deal with some families. We can, and have, take parents to court over non-attendance of school age children.

[MummaBear03]

The school system should have a process in place for dealing with chronic non-attenders. The school I teach at has problems with non-attendance, and we regularly liaise with the Home School Liaison Officer at District Office to deal with some families. We can, and have, take parents to court over non-attendance of school age children.

My daughter's school sends a text message if she isn't there. It's great because when she's in high school she can't wag or I'll get a text :p

[Nomsie]

They need to bring back truancy officers. I don't know why they were abolished in the first place really.

The school I taught at had some shocking attendance rates. One family wouldn't turn up for days, the mother would say they were sick, but all the town kids would report seeing them ride around town on their bikes all day.

Another family had two very slow learners (who we even tested to see if they were eligible for funding, but unfortunately you have to be a really *bad* [for want of a better word] case for that and they missed out) who had a shocking attendance record. Their father was notorious for keeping them at home to help on the farm, or to look after their baby sister whilst their mother worked the farm. These boys were 9 and 10 when this was happening.. being left in a tractor all day or left to care for a 6 month old?! By years end their attendance was hovering around something like 60% :no:

And as a teacher the frsutrating part is there is nothing you can do. You can talk to the parents til you're black and blue, and they can promise til the cows come home, but come the next morning little Johnny still isn't there! (And then it has a knock on effect- scores become twisted for things like NAPLAN, kids get kept down but you can't keep them down repeatedly and so they just fall behind their peers at a steady pace each year, which in turn disables the teacher yet another step... *sigh*)

:no: