Who should be responsible?
I'm a parent, mother and teacher. I'm concerned with the school regulations of the High School that my daughter attends. It's a state school with a good reputation. The school doesn't let any late students in, even if only two minutes late, whatever the reason. The school gate is locked at 7 a.m. and it is heavily guarded by security.
What happened to my daughter has frightened me a great deal. Here is the story: I assigned my son who is already at university to drive his little sister to school every morning. The school is situated in Setiabudi, South Jakarta and we live in Pondok Gede, Bekasi. They have to travel a long distance and get through heavy traffic in the morning.
It's been three months since my daughter got accepted in that school and everything seemed fine, until one day I got a letter from the school asking me to come to discuss my daughter's attendance problem. I was calm and relaxed, as I didn't think of any serious matter.
I was shocked to find out from the teacher in charge that my daughter had been absent without notice 14 times in less than three months. He warned me that if she was absent three more times without notice, she would have to leave the school.
Fourteen days not following the lessons? Where has she been all those hours? What has she done? Why hadn't the school given me any notice sooner? How could the school do that? Most students who are late do not tell parents that they are not allowed into school simply because they are afraid. They go somewhere or hangout in certain places till school hours are over.
My concern and agony are: My daughter could have been possibly become the victim of any crime: Drug trafficking, gambling, sexual abuse, or any other unimaginable crimes. Thinking of those possibilities made me very angry and nervous.
Let's share the thoughts: * Who should be responsible for all the worst possibilities? * How will the students catch up with the missed school lessons? * Has the school thought of any anticipation and consequences? * What's the benefit of the rules if they cause despair to the students?
My suggestion is: Do not ever refuse late students into the school.
I hope that the authorities concerned will take immediate and proper action.
ETIE S. DIRAPRADJA, Bekasi, West Java