Texas Judge Jails Honor Student For Skipping School

[Ja Rhule]

A 17-year-old high school student working two jobs to support her siblings, while juggling college-level classes, spent 24 hours in jail this week for missing too much school,

KHOU 11 News reported.

Diane Tran, an 11th-grader at Willis High School in Willis, Texas said she was often too exhausted to get to school in time.

Judge Lanny Moriarty said he warned the student last month not to miss any more classes or she would be violating truancy law, KHOU 11 News reported. When she missed school again, he had her thrown in jail.

"If you let one run loose, what are you gonna do with the rest of 'em? Let them go too?" Judge Moriarty asked the TV station.

Tran said her parents divorced unexpectedly and left town, leaving it up to her to support her younger sister, who lives with relatives, and her brother's university education, KHOU 11 News reported.

Tran works full-time at a dry cleaner and weekends at Waverly Manor wedding venue, where she lives with the family that owns the business.

At school she takes several advanced placement and college-level courses, often staying up all night, a classmate, coworker and friend of Tran's told the TV station.

Judge Moriarty admitted he was using Tran as an example. Willis High School has a warning about truancy violation on its website .

http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1085027

Judge is a fuging idiot and to resign asap... way to ruin hard working person career...

[jasonluckydog]

Stupid fuging judge all she has to do is quit school I know in SC you can quit at age 17 ....well I did.

I went to night school to get my diploma I was in the same boat she was my parents split and I was raising my little brother who was a special needs student in HS. I worked 2 jobs I had money saved and I bought a cheap mobile home across from the HS for $2500 and $100 a month for lot rent. I had to quit school because I was so tired from working all the time but night school helped me get my diploma and then I went to TTC.

[bigjohn]

How is she an honors student if she's missing that much school?

[Jase]

How is she an honors student if she's missing that much school?

There's a simple answer to this question. Because she's asian.

[Floppin]

How is she an honors student if she's missing that much school?

Are you one of those people that believe 100% attendance is actually necessary for being able to do well in school?

[4Corners]

No surprise here. Typical America.

[Panthers128]

The real issue here is her parents. Where are they and why aren't they raising their child? What is the judge supposed to do with cases of truancy? Ignore every single one? He didn't write the laws. A night in jail isn't the worst of punishments but I do think it would be absurd to have the young woman end up with a criminal record over this. Perhaps truancy laws need to be reviewed, but I think attacking the judge is unreasonable. As harsh as his decision seems, this should actually bring more focus to truancy. I'm not even sure why there should be legal consequences for students who don't attend school when they're old enough to drop out. That doesn't seem logical.

I'd be interested in learning more about her parents. The media reports on stories with little to no information. When you have such little information you can only attack the judge. We need to know why her parents moved after divorcing, why the daughter didn't move to live with one of them, why she's having to provide for her siblings.

Really she's the victim of capitalism. There's the untrue belief that if you work hard in a capitalist system you'll succeed. Tell that to this young lady. She worked hard and found herself in prison. Capitalism is about competition and her parents have split and relocated to better their own lives and her family seems to lack the necessary resources. This has caused the young lady to have to work long hours all while attending school.

The lady should start a fundraiser. This story is gaining a large following and I'm sure many would be willing to assist her financially, even if it's just a small amount.