The measures to deter Ohio high school students from committing truancy seemingly have been strengthened by a state law that allows school officials, in conjunction with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, to revoke a student's driver's license as punishment for excessive or unexcused absences. Although it makes sense for high schools to be concerned about students attending class, this should not warrant the allowance of high school officials to play the part of parents by helping take away a student's driving privileges.
The program, which is not mandatory for all districts, authorizes (under the Ohio Department of Education code) that schools can take action after 10 consecutive unexcused absences or 15 total absences; the BMV can step in and revoke students' licenses. Students who have fallen under this unfortunate punishment have constituted 2.28 percent of the 57,000 high school drivers in Ohio, and locally only two incidences have been reported. Although clearly punishment under this statute is rare and results after an unacceptable number of absences, school officials should recognize that the privilege to drive was not bestowed by them, and therefore should not be taken away by them ' even if, technically, the BMV does the dirty work.
It seems as if this policy is an overzealous measure to try to combat the symptoms of a problem instead of its roots. Students of all ages have heard their teachers bemoan the fact that they are educators, not baby-sitters. However, although uncommon, by enforcing this policy, school officials are being relegated to that position. School officials should focus more on the students in class, and allow parents to deal with those out of class.
Also, if truancy among students has grown to an extent that such extreme measures need to be taken, then it seems parental intervention and even juvenile court would be better deterrents. It is not the job of high schools and the BMV to become involved in situation where a student abuses his or her driving privileges. How a student uses his or her vehicle, whether it be breaking the rules of the road or committing truancy, is between the student, the parents and possibly the courts. This policy, no matter how infrequently used, extends a school's power beyond its walls and isn't necessary.
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