MovieChat Forums > One Eight Seven (1997) Discussion > Why would these kids even come to school...

Why would these kids even come to school?

posted 13 years ago by jnericsonx
6 replies | jump to latest

I never understood that. They don't give a crap, they'd mess up anyone who bothered them, why even bother coming in?

[–] fiatlux-1 13 years ago

I wondered that too. But then, we had kids like that in my high school too. It seemed like either school was a convenient social meeting place, or that they didn't want to be taken in by a truant officer.
Even though the kids were tough in this film, they seemed to fear punishment by parole officers and even principals to some extent.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] jnericsonx 13 years ago

You'd think some of these supposed bad-asses would harm or kill a truant officer.

[–] hubcap18 13 years ago

This is referenced in Dangerous Minds. If they're not in school there's a good chance they would get involved in some illegal activity on the streets. School is just the best way to stay out of trouble. The students in DM say they have no choice but to get on the bus in the morning.

Being inconsistent is better than being consistently bad.

[–] deni1985 10 years ago

In the U.S. minors of school age have to attend school, otherwise the family's welfare benefits get cut or CPS would get involved. So when they say they have to come to school, that's what they mean.

[–] leybadana 8 years ago

exactly, makes no sense to these low-lifes anyhow. law-breakers anyhow.

--------------------------------
Graham Hess: There is no one looking out for us. We are all alone.

[–] The LA Baker (971) 8 years ago

Old thread from a bygone forum, but in case anyone is still wondering the answer to this, its basically what deni1985 said 2 years ago:
"In the U.S. minors of school age have to attend school, otherwise the family's welfare benefits get cut or CPS would get involved."

To clarify a little more, they go to school because if they do not they can actually be taken out of their home(by child protective services), and/or arrested and sent to probation school, which is basically jail for kids during school hours(no chance for any fun there at all really). They have officers who go to their houses and physically force them to go to school. Once there, they are locked in.