Mum of truant boys: ‘I call them ASBO children’
A MOTHER in court for failing to send her boys to school said she calls them “ASBO children” because they were allowed to roam free when they stayed with their late dad.
The 39-year-old Spalding area woman said her sons – aged 14 and 13 – are finding it hard to cope with the loss of their father, who died last year, and their grandfather is critically ill.
She said their father had “instilled in them that they didn’t have to have an education”.
The mum said her elder boy is the same height as she is and the same build.
She told magistrates: “When they lived in Kirton, they were allowed to roam free. They were what I call ASBO children.
“I do feel I am in a no win situation. I do my best to get them in. There is nothing I can really say.”
She pleaded guilty to two cases of being the parent of a child who failed to attend school regularly – one for each child – and was conditionally discharged for six months and ordered to pay £50 costs.
The mum told magistrates she had sought bereavement counselling for the boys, but there was a long waiting list.
Presiding magistrate Gillian Wild suggested she should approach St Barnabas Hospice as the charity offers bereavement counselling.
Mrs Wild said: “They have suffered a lot and they have got to get their heads around getting back into education.”
Anne Wheelan, a senior legal officer with Lincolnshire County Council, said the mother had received extensive warning letters going back to 2010 over the boys’ absences.
In recent times their unauthorised absence rates had run at 27.6 per cent.
A third mum was in court on the same day but the case was adjourned until March 28 as the boy is now attending school.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Lazy Daisy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:44 AMSome sort of intervention is needed here to help the boys to value their education and to help mother communicate effectively with them.
James Mark
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:17 AMsad tale. These people should be helped not persecuted.
spaldonian
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:11 PMwarning letters going back to 2010? surely something should have been done then. why wasnt the father taken to court in 2010? Maybe it wouldnt have got this far if something had been done then
Mr Angry of Tonbridge
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:23 PM@joggaju. Bereavement counselling isn't to do with attending school.
joggaju
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:03 PMMr. Angry - the answer to that is in the article - have you actually read it !!! ??
Mr Angry of Tonbridge
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:09 PMDid these mothers (where were the fathers?) ask for any help before being taken to court?
ysandy
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:14 AMThe school days are the happeist days of their life's, and i wish i'd made the most of my education, they want to make the most of theirs, or they just may end up DOWN and OUTS.
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