WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsEast Baton Rouge battles truancy

East Baton Rouge battles truancy

By Tyana Williams - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - East Baton Rouge leaders are focusing on truancy now that statistics show 60% of juvenile crimes happen during school hours, meaning students not in class are not only missing out on an education, but they're out causing problems for others.

Some educators say they have been waiting for help from the district attorney's office for at least 30 years to tackle the problem. Now, District Attorney Hillar Moore has agreed to prosecute parents of truant children. Principals from several schools say the announcement is good news, especially when most truant children say they picture themselves dead or in jail in the next few years.

Holding his handcuffs, Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff Leduff told a group of EBR principals the cuffs take 15 minutes to build and one bad decision to wear. He says he hopes he never has to put another pair on a child. Last school year, the media was invited to ride along as officers picked up truant kids. The ages of those questioned ranged from 18 to 25.

Truancy is often the reason the handcuffs come out. "I been working in this school system for 45 years, so I been dealing with it for a long time," said Phyllis Crawford, principal of Sherwood Middle School. Crawford says educators have been pleading for years with each district attorney to get involved and prosecute parents who are not making sure their kids are learning in the classroom, but instead, are learning a life of crime.

Statistics show 60% of the juvenile crimes in Baton Rouge happen between 6:00am and 6:00pm. An education representative from Mayor Kip Holden's office says the 70805 zip code has the highest number of truant kids, 17%. When two nearby zip codes are added in the area has a total of 40% truant. "Trying to get parents to get their students to school on time and not miss too many days so they can learn. If they're not there, we can't teach them," Crawford said. "Really, sometimes, get in your cars and go find them."

Students are considered truant if they have more than five unexcused absences. The East Baton Rouge School System says it sends a note home on the third absence and is required to meet with parents to discuss any problems.

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