For parents of teenagers, it might be all too tempting to threaten jail time for skipping classes. But for a Texan student, the veiled threat actually came true.
Honour student Diane was ordered to spend a night in jail after playing hooky for too many classes. The 17 year old, who attends Willis High School, was juggling both a full-time and part-time job in order to help support her younger siblings following her parents' divorce. They no longer live near her, so Tran works at a family-owned wedding venue on weekends.
"She goes from job to job from school," said classmate, Devin Hill. "She stays up until 7:00 in the morning doing her homework."
But in Texas the law is the law. If a student misses ten or more classes in six months, the school has the right to refer the student to a juvenile court. Hence, Tran's arrest and subsequent night in jail. She was also fined $100 for her truancy.
Needless to say, the story's gone viral, with sits like
HelpDianeTran.com raising over $2,000 to help Tran.
A petition at Change.org has collected more than 8,000 signatures asking the judge to revoke the teen's fine.
"This remarkable young woman doesn't deserve jail," wrote Letitia Gutierrez on Change.org. "She deserves a medal."
Do you think the punishment is excessive, given Tran's family situation? Should exceptions be made to truancy laws?
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