What do you make of this? A woman from Bridgeport is pinched for enrolling her son in a Norwalk school. Is this excessive? From CT Post:
An educational lobbying group will hold a news conference in support of Tanya McDowell before the homeless woman’s arraignment Wednesday on charges of illegally sending her son to school in the city.
Gwen Samuel, founder of the Meriden-based educational lobbying group Connecticut Parents Union, scheduled a news conference to take place outside the front entrance of state Superior Court in Norwalk from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday in support of McDowell. It will be McDowell’s first court appearance to face charges brought against her nearly two weeks ago.
Read more: www.ctpost.com/news/article/Event-scheduled-in-support-of-Tanya-McDowell-1351132.php
*** After all the facts have been heard, expect a mere slap on the hand for Ms. McDowell who was merely looking out for her son’s education, no? ***
This story is prominently featured on the websites for the New York Daily News and the New York Post. Why was the kid handcuffed?
If a homeless single mother is willing to do whatever is necessary to keep her child out of the public schools here, what does that say about the quality of education in Bridgeport?
Seeming facts of the story:
* Single Mom with young son
* Living in a Norwalk homeless shelter, in Bridgeport with a relative, in her vehicle, or in someone’s home when they are present (someone who appears to provide some daycare services for $100 per week).
* Mom places son in a Norwalk kindergarten class
Apparently we have laws against being truant (not the issue here), against enrolling a child in a school system where you are not a resident (although why there is an expense assignment of more than what it costs Norwalk to provide a few months of school service, I cannot answer), and we also have Federal laws providing guidance for enrollment and schooling of children in homeless families.
It is hard to be a single parent. Do teenagers who become pregnant understand that? It is hard to support yourself … completing schooling … finding work that supplies income, benefits and hours that allow you to be a good parent … and young people often ignore the lessons, guidance and community wisdom to pursue their own way. Safety nets are present but they were not part of the “dream” I will guess. Who funds the safety nets when times get tough?
Can this Mom or others who find themselves in this situation be a presence for youth in middle or high school? Would kids listen or learn?
Keep on posting this, Winning.
Sooner or later someone besides yourself will believe it.
Announcement: Bridgeport Now TV tonight 8pm to 8:30pm. State Rep. Richard Roy discusses supports for labeling of GMO Products (Genetically Modified Food) proposed bill SB 1116. “In some cases, pesticides are inserted into seeds, genetically modifying the food we eat,” said Rep. Roy. “You can’t wash out these pesticides, they’re there forever.”
Someone should look a little closer into the circumstances surrounding the conditions this lady reported to the news media.
Don’t write ET off just yet. One of his posts today was actually thoughtful and considered.
Finch is playing a losing hand. All of the people who contributed to his re-election campaign will be satisfied with a tax deduction.
Foster has as much momentum as Gomes, maybe more so. Her campaign is utilizing the Internet and the available social networks to great advantage.
I’m with tc on this one. There is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.
I can only say if the woman was homeless and living out of her car she had to enroll him somewhere or she would no doubt lose custody of him because he was not in school, however if a lot of towns hired someone to check out where A LOT of these kids live the classroom size would be smaller and that’s all I hear about in small towns. You would be surprised how many kids are enrolled in Fairfield, Trumbull, Monroe who don’t live there but their aunt, grandparents, uncle or some relative do, boy could the taxpayers save a lot of money if these towns addressed that white elephant!!! The welfare system needs to get this woman an apartment (section 8) and then enroll her child in the town school where he lives.