It has become apparent that Texas is too quick to refer children to the criminal justice system - and too slow to ask: Why?
Op-Ed (Texas)
Deborah Fowler
Houston Chronicle
December 26, 2014
Tags: Children & Juvenile, Delivery Systems, Schools: Discipline
Organizations mentioned/involved: Texas Appleseed
Op-Ed (Texas)
Deborah Fowler
Houston Chronicle
December 26, 2014
Tags: Children & Juvenile, Delivery Systems, Schools: Discipline
Organizations mentioned/involved: Texas Appleseed
DETAILS
Recently, I was starkly reminded that many students miss school for complex reasons. But in the years spent researching truancy issues and helping students who find themselves unrepresented in truancy court, it has become apparent that Texas is too quick to refer children to the criminal justice system – and too slow to ask: Why?
Next spring, Texas has an opportunity to change that. If the Legislature approves a series of Texas Judicial Council recommendations next year, we will come closer as a state to addressing the root causes of truancy and doing better by our children.