Student gets fined by school for going hunting - Page 2

Purebred Redneck · #16 05-31-2005, 12:23 PM

She didn't get fined for hunting. She got fined for an unexcused absence - going to the baseball game, sleeping in too late, visiting your grandma when she's in town - they are "unexcused" absences. The only real excused absences are funerals, sick, or a school sponcered function.

Fabs is right - when we went to school all a parent had to do is call it in. Hell if the parents didn't call it in the school would call home.

I've worked with 2 schools the last 3 years. They are REALLY cracking down on school absences.
#1. there are public stats (at least in MO) that shows a school's attendence rate - and if it falls the school loses funding.
#2. Parents don't care if a kid misses school anymore. It has got to the point that if a kid tells his mom he just doesn't feel like going to school today - the mom will call the kid in sick. That's no joke.

Most of the time schools have a flat scale that if you miss X# of days you fail, you get the paddle for an unexcused, detention, etc. This is the first time I've heard of a fine.
I don't know about that school district - could be school board politics, could be because funding is cut by the gov, or could be a major crackdown on absentees.

Most of the time all you have to do is throw a fit and threaten action. Because I promice you there are minority or athletic students that are getting away with it.

fabsroman · #17 05-31-2005, 01:13 PM

When I was in high school, if you had 5 or more unexcused abscences you lost all credit for that semester. Kind of insance if you ask me, but that is how it went. Granted, the smart kids could probably miss 5 or more days and still pass. Problem was with the kids that were struggling and those were the ones that usually wanted to skip class. My brother tried out the system once and lost all of his credits for the semester. That was a fun ordeal. Back then, the school had a computer program that would call parents to let them know their kid wasn't in school.

DaMadman · #18 05-31-2005, 04:11 PM

I personally think it is rediculous that she is getting into any kind of trouble for taking some days off to go hunting and I think that it is definetly some sort of anti hunting agenda here. Either on the part of the teacher, the principal or both.

However Truency is a punishable crime in many jurisdictions.
However it is not normally enforced at any level much less for the few days you are talking about so all in all I think it is BS too.

gregarat · #19 05-31-2005, 04:45 PM

What is the world coming too? It seems if she lied and said she was sick, the matter might have been overlooked.

About half of the kids in my high school took a "sick day" on the opening day of big game. Most of them didnt even hunt, or have their parents call the school.

Slim-Zippy · #20 05-31-2005, 07:59 PM

I don't know what the law is in your area, but my father-in-law didn't pay school taxes for years, because the school district could not prove it was a legal taxing entity. The judges just kept dismissing the case and hoped it did't attract public attention.

You might check into the schools ability to levy a fine against a student; I thought only criminal and civil courts could do that.

Maybe Fabs has some insight into this question?

Good Luck

Classicvette63 · #21 05-31-2005, 10:26 PM

The fine came from the local magistrate. The school called a cop, he came to the school and took the info. A few days later my sis gets a surprise in the mail. The piece of paper is exactly like a speeding ticket. And my sister did have a warrant for her arrest. She going to fight it, if it goes that far.

fishdoggydog · #22 06-01-2005, 12:53 PM

I think a jury trial would be nice for this case, I know how I would vote. The issue is unexcused absence, and that is determined by local custom from what I am seeing on this board.

Classicvette63 · #23 06-01-2005, 03:59 PM

Went to the see the principal today. (Gee, I haven't had to say that in a long time

) One look at him and I knew I wouldn't have to get hostile. Johnny Milktoast would be the best term I guess. He said he couldn't get into the specifics due to privacy issues. I said "That's fine, let me give you a few specifics. When Tiff is a junior, I'm taking her to Canada to hunt bear just like my Dad did with me. I AM NOT adding an extra grand onto the cost of the trip just because some overpaid money hungry bureacrat has his hand out. That hand is liable to get chopped off." I also went into the fact that I know there are anti-hunters out there but none of them would be stupid enough to try and force their beliefs on me or my family, even if it is a school district. I let him know that we are going to fight it and that I consider this just a misunderstanding. I finished with "I glad that we understand each so I don't have to come back here again".

It seems that my sister filled out the request slip, but it was denied. Eastern will be changing their requirements next year, I can promise that.

fabsroman · #24 06-01-2005, 07:47 PM

Keep us posted on how everything goes.

Purebred Redneck · #25 06-02-2005, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishdoggydog
I think a jury trial would be nice for this case, I know how I would vote.

This problem is "this is stupid" is NOT a reason to vote for the plantiff. Jurors are suppost to look at the law. You are right - I would ask for a jury trial though.

Do I think the policy is lawful? Yes
In good taste and consistant? No
Does this have anything to do with hunting? No, not anymore than any other recreational activity.

fabsroman · #26 06-02-2005, 12:47 AM

PBR,

How juries determine things is tough to figure out, and the first person that figures it out will make a ton of money. Sometimes they do listen to the judge and determine things based on the law, but sometimes they go with the sympathy part of it all. Granted, if the law doesn't support their finding in the least bit, the Judge has the power to override the jury. Then you will be going through an appeal process for the rest of eternity.

fishdoggydog · #27 06-02-2005, 12:57 PM

When I said I know how I would vote if I was on the jury, shows my predudice. A good lawyer wouldn't let me on the jury,because this was me 30 + years ago, only I lost a grade point instead of a fine. I went hunting, told them so, and it was unexcused. Shows how stubborn I was, and that hunting was more important than grade point average. The kicker is, I was on the Honor Society, was told I should be going to college by my guidance counseler, and had too many issues to listen to anyone older than 20. I can't go back, but tell young people now, that education is a light weight to carry the rest of their life.

fabsroman · #28 06-02-2005, 02:23 PM

Depends what side the good lawyer is on.

Andy L · #29 06-03-2005, 01:03 PM

Classic,
Just saw this and it makes my blood boil. Thank god they dont do it here. Heck, they used to pretty much shut down for deer season when I was a kid. No one showed up anyway.

Keep us posted. If you need bonded, Im not licensed in PA, but do have contacts.

(Thanks for the referral Fabs...

)

I am on jury duty right now. Havent gotten chosen yet, but did have to go through the selection once. I got a feeling I didnt get picked partially because it was an injury case and the surgeon testifying is also the surgeon who did my back surgery and will probably be doing another soon. Who knows though. 45 people and they needed 12. Sure didnt break my heart to not get picked. I have set though enough court with work. Some people felt dejected though for not getting picked. I didnt understand that.

I will say that I will take my boys out of school for anything I feel I need to or want to. I hate to say it, but PBR is right. Its not just about hunting. Schools seem to have the idea that they are running the show in alot of ways these days. I dont see it that way. Im thankful for good schools and good teachers, but we all have lives outside of work and school. Some things just take over. I have battled with teachers, principles and other school officials that just cant believe my stance on some things. I know my son has probably learned as much or more from me as he has from school.

Boils my blood.

Andy

fabsroman · #30 06-03-2005, 11:43 PM

Over the years I have noticed that children are mostly a reflection of their parents. Yes, teachers provide them with an education, but most of their traits (e.g., honesty, dishonesty, courage, cowardice, bravery, chivalry, morals) are picked up from their parents. The example a parent set for his/her children is extremely important. That is why it is important for parents to spend time with their kids. Society today has children doing way too much to try and get ahead. Problem is that it injurs the child/parent relationship.