A good way to keep tabs on kids

The truant officer has made a comeback, thank goodness. In days of old, employees of the Milwaukee Public Schools would scour the streets for kids playing, as they used to say, hooky. This vigilance came to a halt for some odd reason. But in the fall of 1993, the practice resumed under state financing. This time around, city police officers and county deputy sheriffs are rounding up the truants.

The results of the program dubbed TABS, for Truancy Abatement and Burglary Suppression are encouraging. The funds for this $500,000-a-year pilot project run out this school year. Gov. Tommy Thompson proposes in his biennial budget to extend financing, but only for one more year. The Boys & Girls Club, which operates centers to which truants are brought, argues that financing should be continual. The program's results give cogency to the agency's case.

To date officers have stopped more than 9,000 kids who were skipping school, about half of whom were hauled into the TABS centers for counseling and educational activities. The club sees a link between intervention and a drop in some categories of daytime crime. While such a link isn't proved, it seems obvious that some kids skipping school do partake in such crimes as burglary, vandalism and worse. Thus, keeping tabs on the youngsters no doubt curbs mischief.

In any event, merchants seem happy with the program. TABS officers responded to 400 calls for service this school year from retailers, residents and parents, the Boys & Girls Club says. The calls from merchants have dropped substantially this school year from last an indication that truants have learned, if not to go to school, at least to avoid restaurants and stores.

This academic year TABS has led to 200 arrests and cleared 50 missing-person cases. Since

January, the program has led to the enroll- ment of 10 kids who weren't in school.

Why the truant officer faded into history is a puzzle. But school attendance is more important in this high-tech era than ever. An engaging academic program is the best cure for chronic absence. But the truant officer helps. The Legislature should heed the Boys & Girls Club and finance TABS on an ongoing basis.

Copyright 1995
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.