Truancy Court
By: Lauren Murphy
Updated: December 20, 2007
Students who were excessively absent from school, and their parents appeared before a county judge this week.
Some kids racked up more than fifty unexcused absences.
Many student and parent have their excuses ready
"My girlfriend just had a child," said senior from Lubbock High School.
"Right now we're having a horrible time financially," said one mother.
"She was a runaway," said another.
But Judge Chaides-Hernandez says 'no more excuses.'
"We all have things to do," said Chaides-Hernandez
"Your job is to go to school."
But many parents insist they had no idea.
Now instead of tardy slips and warnings, these kids get a taste of the law.
Some got off with warnings, others with five-hundred dollar fines per absence, and at least one person will serve jail time.
The judge says this is about more than these kids getting an education.
"They are out there getting pregnant and committing other crimes," said Chaides-Hernandez.
