Thread: Oklahoma high school to fine students for tardiness, missing class

Oklahoma high school to fine students for tardiness, missing class

By Madeline Farber
3 hours ago

A high school in Oklahoma is cracking down on students for tardiness and missing class.

Officials at Muskogee High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma are reportedly enforcing a state law that would allow the school to fine students $250 for missing classes repeatedly without an excused absence. The law also states that students could be imprisoned for 15 days for the same reason.

It was not immediately clear what would happen if the fine wasn't paid.

Muskogee High School Principal Kim Fleak told KTUL that the fine would apply to students who are late or miss class four times in four weeks, noting that the fines are set by the state and are meant to hold students accountable.

"We had some attendance issues, so this is one of those ways that we're trying to combat. It's important to us that kids are in school, in the class, receiving that instruction,” Principal Kim Fleak told KOCO 5.

That said, some parents are not happy with the school’s decision. And at least 400 students have signed a petition that challenges the school’s enforcement of the law, KTUL reported.

"There's no way that I could afford a $250 fine," Johanna Hondy, whose daughter attends Muskogee High School, told KTUL. "I don't know anyone in this town who can afford that really."

A tenth grade student at the school, Abigail Cochran, is one of the students who signed the petition. She said that getting to and from classes in five minutes might be difficult for students who are commuting across campus.

"There are people wanting to dropout of school because of this, because they know they can't pay these fines," Cochran said, suggesting a better option to punish students would be detention.

A spokesperson for Muskogee High School was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Fox News on Saturday.

Madeline Farber is a Reporter for Fox News. You can follow her on Twitter @MaddieFarberUDK.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/25...ing-class.html

Not sure I agree with punishing the parent for the child's behavioral problems. Like they say, you can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

Of course there is another way to look at this. Maybe the kids behavioral problems can actually be blamed on lax parents who never discipline their children and allow them to walk all over them.

I guess a person like me, not knowing all the details, could fall on either side of the fence on this argument.

Fines and/or imprisonment for skipping school? No, that's not right to do at all. You need to find out why they're skipping school, are they bored, peer pressure, working, doing dope, hanging out, bullied, teasing, not involved in activities, don't feel well but didn't go to the doctor, afraid, didn't do their homework, didn't study for the test, oversleep and miss the bus, not safe to walk to school if they don't ride the bus, problems at home, you need to find out why they don't look forward to going to school. There's a reason so you need to find out what it is and then help them deal with it.

Originally Posted by MW

Of course there is another way to look at this. Maybe the kids behavioral problems can actually be blamed on lax parents who never discipline their children and allow them to walk all over them.

Duh! Although the environment at some schools can precipitate bad behavior, it is most often the parents.

The older 2 of my six granddaughters were constantly in trouble at school and their mom moved them to a parochial school. But that didn't cure the problem. After the marriage ended, I had custody of the youngest three. While they fought with each other before I got them, they got along fine in my home. They got along fine in school. But then their mother took them back. Within 6 months, they had been to the principal's office twice, much like their older sisters had been.

Originally Posted by MW

I guess a person like me, not knowing all the details, could fall on either side of the fence on this argument.

If we have to wait until we have all of the details before we can have an opinion, we will never have an opinion. Even with the facts, there is no easy decision. Even in adult society, sending someone to prison for punishment can harden them into major criminals. Does that justify never punishing anyone?

Originally Posted by Judy

Fines and/or imprisonment for skipping school? No, that's not right to do at all. You need to find out why they're skipping school, are they bored, peer pressure, working, doing dope, hanging out, bullied, teasing, not involved in activities, don't feel well but didn't go to the doctor, afraid, didn't do their homework, didn't study for the test, oversleep and miss the bus, not safe to walk to school if they don't ride the bus, problems at home, you need to find out why they don't look forward to going to school. There's a reason so you need to find out what it is and then help them deal with it.

That's a long list! Where to start?

Also add problems with teachers or gym class. Lots of reasons for skipping school that are not really the sole fault of the skipping student.

Of course every case could be due to a different situation. However, I lean mostly toward poor parenting.