Parent Watch Pointers #2


What Can I Do About My Child's Truancy?
Truancy refers to a child wilfully missing even a single class at school and it's serious. At the very least the child falls. At its worst, truancy can lead to a court appearance, probation and even incarceration. Unchecked, truancy can jeopardize a school career and seriously affect life later on.
The first step in dealing with truancy is to determine your family's policy regarding school attendance. Develop guidelines and choose a bottom line. For example:
    • Attend every day unless running a temperature or vomiting or can't breathe
    • No course changes later than the second week of school no matter how much you hate the teacher.
    • 5-6 days off a semester is okay; everyone gets sick or needs a mental health day now and then.
    • It's okay to drop the one course you're not attending as long as you go to the others.
    • As long as you pass the courses, you can monitor your own attendance.

If your adolescent is not meeting your requirements regarding attendance and if you haven't heard from the school about your child's attendance, call the school and ask for the attendance secretary. Ask for a printout of your child's attendance record and arrange to pick it up. If you've already heard from a teacher or Vice Principal, make an appointment to call or meet with them to get a clear picture of your child's attendance pattern.

The best way to combat truancy is to form a team

Meet with your child and review your attendance requirements. Then ask your child to create a plan to meet those requirements.

Call the school administration and ask what the school policy is regarding attendance. What can your child expect if he or she fails to attend? Ask if the school has an attendance counsellor and arrange a meeting or phone call. Ask that you be informed of attendance on a regular basis (E.g. a printout for you every Friday, calls home if they have the time, or a combination of the two.) Ask for a regular review of your child's attendance with all the team members. Reviews should be a meeting at school with you, your child, an administrator, teacher(s), and the attendance counsellor. Determine with your child what the consequences will be at home if he or she does not meet your attendance requirements.

When the professionals get involved

If you think your child's truancy is socially or emotionally based, request an assessment by the school attendance counsellor.

Often harassment, bullying, and anxiety about peers or academic expectations can cause a student to avoid certain classes or school altogether. As more classes are missed, truancy becomes a habit and the additional anxiety of returning after a prolonged absence is added to the original issues.

If truancy is emotionally based, the team members can help your child devise support strategies and re-entry plans. If truancy is a defiant or antisocial act, sanctions such as detentions to make up classes and full day, in school suspensions can be used. (An at-home suspension is a 'dream come true' for truant teens.)

If the student remains non-compliant, the school's attendance officer may issue a court warning letter. If truancy persists, a charge can be laid and the matter will proceed to court. This can result in a court disposition that can include on order to attend school, probation, a fine, or community service.

© Lifecycle Counselling 1998

 Parent Watch® and Lifecycle Counselling will not be held liable for any damages or losses, howsoever sustained, as a result of the reliance on or use by a participant or any person on any of the information or opinions expressed or otherwise contained herein.

Where appropriate, professional advice should be sought.