I'm not trying to be nosey or anything but last year I noticed my next door neighbor's kids were missing school like crazy..Was pretty typical to see one of his kids home atleast one day a week. He's a single Dad to a 6thgrader, 7thgrader and 9thgrader. Last year I emailed the principal a annonymous email telling him what's going on. This year I've been nice enough to give the 6thgrader a ride along with my kindergartener everyday.. So far this short school year the kids have missed 3 days already. It has been random.All 3 kids are home today. The dad calls and says they're sick but they're not. I know this becuase we were at their house last night. It just bugs me and drives me crazy.. I feel like tax payers pay for their education and their not using it. Their Dad is on again off again welfare and I think these kids are heading down the same path. My own daughter asked today if she could stay home from school, I said no way school's very important and your teacher will be upset if you aren't there. I know the 9th grader has a truancy officer and has been in trouble before for missing so much school. Does anyone know what can be done about this or if I should just stay out of it. I'm not talking to their Dad he's mean and intimidating.I should also add the kids don't have bedtimes and are typically up til 3-4am watching movies on a regular basis.I know this becuase I had to call the police over 10 x for noise disturbances when they're surround sound bass hits my walls. Should I email the principal again or just leave it be?
Since I wrote this. The kids have all run around outside and have friends over now and even came to my door wanting my daughter. I said no if you were to sick to go to school then your not having anything to do my daughter and they said "Oh we weren't really sick" I said well I don't believe in that so go home.
2nd update- I know the dad has depression. He has no friends. When he's unemployed he doesn't get off the couch ever..... He doesn't need to get the kids up and ready becuase they're all 11yrs.old and older. He just enjoys to spend the day with them.He's very strict on certain things and totally leniant on other things. He lets the 14yr.old smoke, grounds the kids for anything and everything, and let's them miss school whenever they feel like it. He calls the school and says they're sick when they're not but the school doesn't require doctor notes I asked the other day because my daughter was really sick. They have a social worker, and the kids have mentors. I don't think anything would happen by calling Child Protection. They just had a guardian ad litem come out too because both parents want custody but mom is actually worse off. I am close to the two girls because I feel so bad for them. I am like a mentor myself. My daughter is also attached to the two girls. I feed them here and there and drive the one to school and help out but it's driving me nuts. Dad left work early on Tue. Missed Wed. and Missed Thur. so he's on his way to being fired again.
Yous should contact social services. I used to teach before kids and know that there will be many more problems to follow than just truancy. You can stay anonymous when you call- Information or Reporting: ###-###-#### for Dakota County. Please do so since you may be their only hope.
I would report it not only to the school - it's actually the schools responsibility to report it to social services if parents are letting their children stay at home. There are only a certain amount of days children can miss before the school is suppose to step in and you go to court with your children.
As a responsible adult......I would report it by Dec. if it hasn't gotten better by christmas. Keep track of the days if you can.....People like that you don't need to associate with or have your kids for that matter.
It is a form of neglect, educational neglect to be exact, for a parent not to be enforcing their child's going to school and obtaining an education. If it seems to be bothersome and you're worried and have the children's best interest in mind, I'd either contact the school counselor or else social services so that someone can intervene.
Good luck!
Hi B.,
I'm a therapist who works with children and families. The social worker at that school should be making a home visit to this family. It sounds really neglectful and those children a super lucky to have you for a neighbor. That father sounds like he may be suffering from a mental illness and need some more services than he has at this time. The social worker can make the decision to involve child protective services, that would probably be the next step. It sounds like you're a great mom to your little girl.
Good luck with the school year.
S.
it is very sad that those kids are not on a schedule everyday so that they can get to school like they are supose to. The sadest part about the whole thing is the fact that thier dad is letting these kids stay home and it is only going to hurt the kids in the future..
I don't know what city you live in but I am in Saint Louis Park and out here they keep track of that stuff at the school and are very strict about how many times they are not there.
Every time they are not in school and there is no doctors note it is considered unexcused. Expecially if it is happening all the time.
I think it will catch up with both the kids and the dad with time.
Im sorry to be rude but that dad needs to pull his head out and make those kids go to school.....
