Another Mom Jailed for Sending Child to Wrong School District
Please click here to join our coalition to help Ms. McDowell
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World – Scholarship in Action
When Rev. Al Sharpton and I went to Ohio earlier this year to rally on behalf of Kelley Williams-Bolar, I thought I’d be done with cases like this for at least a little while. However, the Your Black World Coalition has been informed today that another mother in Connecticut has also been put in jail for enrolling her child in the wrong school district.
Tonya McDowell, a homeless woman from Bridgeport, CT, has been charged with grand larceny and conspiracy to commit first degree larceny after enrolling her son in Brookside Elementary, in Norwalk, CT. McDowell used the address of a friend, Ana Rebecca Marques, to get her 6-year old into the school. The district is accusing her of stealing $15,000 in services for her “deviant” behavior.
Ms. Marques was evicted from the Norwalk Housing Authority projects for her role in the incident after a complaint was filed against Ms. McDowell. This led to an investigation, where the mother filed an affidavit stating her son’s residence to be in the Roodner Court Public housing complex in Norwalk.
Ms. McDowell told police that she’d been living in Bridgeport in a homeless shelter when her son was enrolled in school. She also said she has a friend in Norwalk who allowed her to stay there at night and leave during the day. Effectively, she and her son were rotating between the homeless shelter and staying with friends in order to survive.
“This is the first time I have heard something like this where there has been an arrest. Other allegations like this have been handled by the central office,” said Norwalk Board of Education Chairman Jack Chiarmonte.
Richard Moccia, the Mayor of Norwalk, had this to say:
“This now sends a message to other parents that may have been living in other towns and registering their kids with phony addresses.”
I’m still doing my research on Norwalk, CT, but it appears that the city is relatively affluent, with an average income of over $70,000 (according to 2007 Census data). But it’s hard to gauge at this point what the motivation might be to incarcerate Ms. McDowell for trying to get her son a proper education. Simple logic implies that whatever resources were saved from him not being enrolled in his home district (whatever that might be) could be applied to the secondary district. So putting parents in jail for sending their kids to schools outside their district is simply a legalized way of fencing out those that the community deems to be undesirable.
The other interesting thing about this case is that one has to wonder exactly how it can be argued that a person without a home is outside their county of residence. Beating up on a homeless woman who is doing all she can to get her child into school is a shameful microcosm of the kind of greed and selfishness our country has chosen to embrace. There was once a time when slaves were arrested for trying to learn how to read, and now poor mothers are being arrested for trying to send their children to the school of their choice.
NAACP President Ben Jealous just released a statement in which he cited the fact that our nation continues to suffer by spending more to incarcerate than we are spending to educate. The NAACP statement becomes loud and clear in the case of Tonya McDowell, for it is downright shameful that this mother is being taken away from her son, when she’s probably all that he’s got. After being forced to grow up without the person who loves him the most, statistical data says that Ms. McDowell’s son will likely end up in the system, just like his mother. With a criminal record, Ms. McDowell’s future employment prospects will be crippled and her son’s lack of education will likely impact his economic opportunities as well. I am hurt that our nation has now made a tradition out of maintaining the cycle of intergenerational marginalization.
We’ve all got to come together to help Ms. McDowell. Please click here to sign a petition on her behalf and we will follow up with contact information to the mayor’s office so that we can make a concerted effort to fight on behalf of this mother who is being penalized for trying to give her son a better future. This situation is sad and sickening, and I am going to reach out to as many people as I can to let Norwalk officials know that this kind of behavior is both unAmerican and unacceptable. We will NOT allow this child’s future to be destroyed by ignorance.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Syracuse University Professor and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
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So instead of the fact that this woman is homeless in the 1st place in a country that cant seem to find the will to fund social services that would secure housing for her and her children BUT can pull hundreds of millions dollars A DAY out of it’s ass to bomb a sovereign nation into oblivion; ostensibly for HUMANITARIAN REASONS?!! This is why this country, like all other bloated, corrupt and power-mad empires before it, is destined to fall and fall hard. And I don’t even have to GUESS what nationality this woman is. THIS IS YOUR TAX $$ at work black people–we are criminalized for the most mundane, minor offenses that basically boil down to basic survival–and the TRUE criminals get away scot-free time and time again! US is everything Orwell predicted!
What’s that old saying, “…the more things change the more they stay the same”. Wow, welcome to the 21st century, 1876. Didn’t a group of white people just celebrate the bicentennial of the Civil War? You know the war that wasn’t about slavery. Playing education roulette for the betterment of your child, given such severe residential insecurity, is tantamount to facing a firing squad for feeding the hungry. America seems to be heading down a very slippery pole to social devastation, greased in my view by non-other than that so-called organization, “Tea Party” zealots aka vigilante movement. White people feel no shame today in venting their racial hostility in plain view of America’s most vital citizens as if to say, “…if you don’t like it…leave!!!”.
Robert H. Miller, Ph.D.
2.
What’s that old saying, “…the more things change the more they stay the same”. Wow, welcome to the 21st century, 1876. Didn’t a group of white people just celebrate the bicentennial of the Civil War? You know the war that wasn’t about slavery. Getting arrested for playing education roulette for the betterment of your child, given such severe residential insecurity, is tantamount to facing a firing squad for feeding the hungry. America seems to be heading down a very slippery pole to social devastation, greased in my view by non-other than that so-called organization, “Tea Party” zealots aka vigilante movement. White people feel no shame today in venting their racial hostility in plain view of America’s most vital citizens as if to say, “…if you don’t like it…leave!!!”.
Robert H. Miller, Ph.D.
Its all about the money. Education of our children is not important. The financial
gain of some folks is??? “FOLLOW THE MONEY”.
Sorry, but what does this have to do with skin color?
Facts:
Parent doesn’t live in the school district.
Parent gives false information to the government to get her child in a good school district.
Parent gets caught.
Parent breaks the law and gets caught…
Here comes Al and Mr. Boyce injecting race when it wasn’t an issue.
Fix the system!!! If you want to inject race, let’s talk about why black leaders continue to support the systems, unions, and party that continues this “victim” BS and creates this sick “culture of dependency”. Democrat solution…We need more money, every White and Black person reading this knows more money won’t fix the education system, Black or White. I’ll show you education systems that have tremendous outcomes with kids in the worst neighborhoods that cost less then the public systems. But you throw your vote to one party who wants nothing to do with the system that does a better job for less money.
If the schools are broke in black area’s give them a competitive option like vouchers, fix the family structure, and get rid of those leaders, that continue to tell you “It’s not your fault. You need me to look out for you. I’ll take care of you.”
There are a lot of educated people on this site and a bunch that buy into the victim BS. Like someone just commented “follow the money” especially when Al and Dr. Boyce start talking.
Wake up black America, next election season vote for the person that is going to help you to become successful. Don’t vote for the party because your parents did and you just assume it’s what you are supposed to do. By the way I am an independent, and think it’s a great place to be.
I want each and every one of you young junior officers that have never wanted for anything to sign this petition. If you live in this area, I expect you to show “leadership” and be where you are needed. If you are in the 22nd M.E.U., this will be posted in the appropriate place. There will be a mandatory, MANDATORY, meeting in the unit hall at 1100 23 April 2011. Bring your children and your check book.
Stop playing dominoes and get out and find a child to mentor. You have some of the best educations on earth, and it is high time you put to work. This could be your sister, aunt, nephew, etc. Those that know me know that past two sentences I am PISSED.
You think us “Ol Skool” officers have been telling you fairy tales. WE made so that YOU could even become officers in any branch of the service. You don’t owe me anything, but you owe your good fortune to men that went before you, as I owe those that went before me.
Does this sound like a fairy tale to you? If so, run, don’t walk, to your nearest mental health station and call me.
And if you think you have it made because of your rank, skin color, or any other thing you use to trick yourself, WAKE YOUR ASS UP!
Thank you Dr. Watson for showing these men and women what they are really “fighting” for.
I think you are going to be getting plenty of help on these matters from now on.
Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities… because it is the quality which guarantees all others.
Winston Churchill
http://colonel6.com/2011/04/19/another-mom-jailed-for-sending-child-to-wrong-school-district/
Grand larceny for a homeless woman enrolling a child–a black child, I’m guessing?–in a good school district?
The Norwalk, CT school district makes me sick. If this isn’t about the evils of privilege, I don’t know what is. Arrogance, greed, exclusivity, discrimination, fear, othering, hate….
We should be commending, rather than criminalizing and incarcerating, a homeless mother for trying to improve her child’s lot in life. Stealing?? Stealing what? Her child’s right to a decent public education?
Our entire education system is sick. All education taxes should be distributed evenly, to all public school students in the country. How on earth is it justifiable for affluent neighborhoods to get affluent educations, and for everyone else to get anything less?
Thank you to Dr. Watkins for publicizing this, and for the NAACP to be calling out our system of incarceration, instead of more affordable education, for those who are othered in this society. This should be a wake-up call for all of us to ensure that every child, every zip code, has equal access to equal-caliber public education.
I guess the mother should have said that they were from Mexico; nobody from there ever gets jailed for using up our educational funds.
Race aside, she did and she did’n break the law , as she was spending time in nolwalk , but she was not a resident and we are missing the point- that there are now two homeless people as her friend who allowed her to stay at times w/ her – is now homeless – as her friend used the address to register her child in school.
But then many people do this- as they need a stable address where they can recieve correspondence as living in the shelter system is dicey at times. Thats why some get p.o. boxes, for a stable way to have correspondence/home address for job applications, ect.
Dont just make it about being black, as ms. Marquez might be hispanic and no one is worried about her homeless state- and can she be able to re-home herself now tht she has been kicked out of public housing.
Its a sad thing- but I guess thats why you must educate yourself and be independent…because when you are fed by the goverment cheese,- you must eat how and when they tell you.
Remenbered when welfare reciepients were punished for saving $, like when a child was allowed to have summer jobs , but was penalized because she saved money for college, had to get rid of it/ spend it or she could risk having her whole family cut off. Dammed if you do, dammed if you dont- cant grow/ get out of your cercumstances if you cant save $- but you expected to do it it on your own dime!
Case in point- recently NYS has considered making it so that food stamps could not purchase certain foods, like soda – too much fat/obesity leading to diabetes and other health problems and more need for medical/ health services. Sounds unfair …sure but once again you are being aided by goverment-and the whole idea is that you either get upset get off of it or become independent and not have need of it!or as the other saying goes…beggars can’t be chosers!
Norwalk, CT was overly harsh to both women!Instead of looking to aid & assist- they take two people already on the bottom rung of life and make their station even lower.
why m i not surprised!
FED UP—HOW STUPID CAN U BE U TAKE A STORY YOU FELT WAS RACIST AGAINST BLACKs, TO THEN BE RACIST AGAINST HISPANICS—
SAD, the cycle you keep spinning!
IM NOT SURPRISED!
FED UP- HOW STUPID ARE YOU U? YOU TAKE A STORY YOU FEEL PROTRAYS RACISM AGAINST BLACK – TO THEN BE RACIST AGAINST HISPANICS….ITS A SAD CYCLE YOUR SPINNING!
LIKE I SAID BEFORE LETS EDUCATE OURSELvES SO WE ARE NOT IN THESE POSITIONS!
yes is it unfair great educations are not available to everyone… or that people are homeless…yes but people need to get their act together we cannot all take care of those who dont take care of themselves- this victim mentality- looking for a handout / help.
Too many able body, young people on public assistance , food stamps, childcare…ect. saying they need a hand / assistance…but why?
Why is it up to to others to support your bad luck or choices? Now many have had a bad or unexpected circumstances- but the idea is to get back on your feet- not drink from the kool aid forever.
Once worked in social svcs center- had woman called upset – felt she was not recieving enough $$$, because was short of $$$ , as she had to take cabs to dr. appts- …why not take public transportation? – she had too many kids and it was disruptive to carry them on bus- …why was she going to dr–because she was expecting another child! I promptly told her – its not our fault she has too many kids- and felt the need to take cabs- she failed to realize …cabs are a luxury…i know affluent people who walk rather than take a cab- yet she felt a sense of entitlement to cab service?! On someone elses dime no less! Reminded her — they are giving just enough to scarcely get by and not a penny more!They are not trying to make you comfortable ..they want you to be frustrated , want more, & get off of it and on your own two feet!
I think Mary summed up the situation pretty good. The issue here is a lack of compassion. It’s a classic case of an opportunity to show mercy and no mercy was shown. What exactly did this decision accomplish?: two women now homeless, one incarcerated, and a son without his mother, and I supposed his education interrupted if he was sent back to his correct district.
I know what it’s like to be homeless and have to live off the mercy of friends and family. I was fortunate, in reference to my daughter’s schooling at the time, because in high school in NYC you can go to schools outside your district. But if my circumstance had occurred while she was still in elementary school, I would have had the same problem, since I had to move several times in one school year.
The bottom line is that the poor are hated and some rich people actually believe that they are where they are because they have been shown some special favor by God or they are where they are because of their own might or intellect. Here’s a news flash: Don’t forget the story of Lazarus and the beggar. Showing mercy and compassion is acting godly and in the end, since we can’t take any of these wordly possessions with us when we die, will be the only thing that matters.
And Vic, you’re demonstrating the same sense of entitlement that you complain about, in reference to the woman and the cab she wanted. While you were spending time chastising her, you should have been thankful that YOU have a job, instead of responding as if she was using your personal money.
We all pay taxes and we don’t all agree on how it should be spent. Like always, people are anti-government, welfare etc., until they need help. Then, it’s not welfare. We give it another name because everyone else is wanting a handout, but it now becomes what we are entitled to because we have been paying into the system.
Do we really pay attention? Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricans, etc. Why do people only want to help when there is a crisis. Acts of compassion can and should be shown daily. Why, intentionally, add to someone else’s burdens?
Even if she couldn’t have what she wanted, you still could have been kind. it’s not just a job, it’s also an opportunity to serve.
Education is the way out of ignorance and poverty. The Connecticut Branches of the NAACP should closely examine this Norwalk Case and take a stand. I live in Connecticut and had not heard about the moves taken by City Officials against this mother trying to provide an equal educational opportunity for her child. Dr. Boyce Watkins thank you for getting the facts out there. Due to the draconian effects, the present law needs changing by “any means necessary”. The frightening message sent, goes far beyond the borders of Ohio and Connecticut.
I guess its time to break the ice and say what needs to be said, we’re not “fighting against flesh and blood but evil and spiritual wickedness in high places”. We are seeking peace that we will “never find”, and “men’s heart shall fail them in the last days”. The fact is you cannot “legislate” compassion, consideration or kindness, you cannot “revolutionize” fairness, equality or opportunity. These attributes and “acts of civility” must come from a converted heart and a intentional will to do good. This poor woman and her child are suffering from persons in authority whose character is laced with evil and absent of compassion and mercy. It is said that “victory goes not to the swift or the strong, but to them who endureth until the end”, this woman’s fate is determined by “her faith” and perserverance. It is also comforted by those of us who understand courage, compassion, mercy, love and kindness. Let us keep in mind that both the “wheat and tares” will share the same space but “He” who is in control will separate them and “harvest” one and “burn” the other. Let us have the mindset of Him who paid the full price for our shortcomings, and let us “pray” for those poor souls who make Ms. McDowell’s existence here and now almost unbearable. Their just reward will be given them according to their works while its “still day”, our faith has to rest in knowing that “vengance is His” and the just “shall inherit” eternal bliss and peace. The promise is He’ll “never leave or forsake us” that “He’ll be with us even until the end”. We were never promised that things would be easy, but its nice to have someone around to visit us, encourage us, support us and show kindness towards us and I think that is what Dr. Watkins is asking from us for Ms. McDowell and her child. Let us be that “light on the hill”.
Richard, your words of wisdom are very correct and the devil has a veil over the eyes of man because he knows that the end is near. I am sure that the mayor of CT would have a different view of this mothers actions if it were one of her family members. However, she is one of the persons in high places but apparently she doesn’t know or has forgotten that those who judge others shall also be judged.
This matter was not handled in a compassionate manner and though everyone must obey the law, this is scripture too, there is a right way to do everything. Now the state of CT has 3 persons to take care of and I am sure it will cost more than the estimated cost they say this mother has stolen from the school district. There is no end to the ridicule that people in American feel they have the right to inflict on the poor. The tactics of parents wanting an education for their children may not always be correct but a closer look needs to be taken at why they have to do this to get an equal education for their children.
American, wake up while there is still time! We say American is the land of the free, is this a true statement of everyone?
To Mark: That’s Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Watkins to you. Good day!
It’s crazy what we put people in jail for. This woman could’ve been doing worse things like teaching her child how to be a criminal. We see it when mothers teach their kids how to steal. This woman just wanted her child to get an education. I don’t understand how her child was in the wrong district when they were homeless. Why not figure out where he is supposed to be (if that can be done) and send him to school there and be done with it. Instead she is put in jail, a child left without his mother, a child that may end up in foster care, a mother with a crminial record (if she doesn’t already have one) which will determine job security for her in the future. So sad to hear. Does it make sense to pay the bill to incarcerate someone rather than pay for education? That is so backwards. This country is backwards.
The key question here for me is, where does a person who is homeless have her child(ren) enrolled in school in the city they are in? If they have no address, how do they know which school to place their young ones in? The Ohio woman was a working mother with a home address. The Connecticut woman is/was homeless. Somebody explain that one to me. I need clarification as to how she could be accused of theft of something like an education when each American child is entitled to have one. The homeless people in America have a greater challenge of tryingot survive, put food in their children’s stomach, and find someplace to lay their heads each night. At least this mother was attempting to get her child(ren) into school. Can somebody let me know what the answer to these questions might be?
I have read some of the most ridiculous posts from educated people. First of all you can never know what your future holds. I am a thirty-nine year old mother of five who was diagnosed with ESRF (end stage renal failure) up until the time that I was diagnosed my husband and I independently cared for and raised our family with no assistance from the government. I said that to say,”you should NEVER judge a book by it’s cover, there may come a time when you too will need a helping hand, don’t let ignorance be your guide”.I am proud to say that thanks to the helping hands and hard work(my husband, I am now disabled)we have created a great life for our children.
People should start home schooling their children and then ask for a $15,000 tax credit for services provided in the home for parents educating their own children. Over-haul the Public Educational System in the United States of America and stop teaching in a one-size fits all educational environment of the 19th Century. It “AIN’T” working in the 21st Century and beyond. Apply a Human Matrix for measuring innovation and talent development versus an Academic Matrix which continues to prove how many people will be participants in Societal Ills and subsidy programs.
Sure Standardized Testing should be an approach to a snapshot of what has been learned, cannot predict the future innovational and talent development of an individual. There are many of innovators that prove this true everywhere in society. Education in its present form is failing the masses of American Citizens who need to participate in a Knowledge Based Economy. Public Education focuses is rooted in what I should know and not what I am good at doing and learning about. Hence, people aimless wandering through their education careers never really focuses on I am Excite to learning about…I able to Exhibit at a competent level… I Execute this (replace with the noun) continually striving for Excellence, because I am a/an (Fill-in what it is you are or want to become).
Its truly sad that in this day and time that they’re still trying to lock us, take away our kids education and just make it hard for us. But if we as blacks don’t stand up for each other and have something done about things like this, they will continue to do us the way they’re doing us. Forget about the speeches, hell do something about it.
I am an African-African, living in Germany. Some time ago I was to report in our local
“Socialamt”
When I knocked the door, I was asked to come in. While in I was asked if I am homeless or
just returned from prison. I answered no. There upon I was asked to wait a while outside.
Later, in conversation with the officer, I got know that the questions asked before was necessary because the social officer is obliged to stop every duty on his desk to see to it that anybody in such situation is cared for immediately. That means to say in Germany, no one is permitted to sleep at a place that cannot be called a home.
But in the USA that happens, people are so homeless that they sleep in the streets and under bridges etc. So pathetic and this in God’s own country!
Meanwhile the tax payers’ money is wasted daily to destroy our very existences in Africa and other poorer countries.
If this lady has a home she will not need to do what she had done and so will be no arrest. And there will be nothing with racism.
I think it is time that the African – American also look out and develop interest in the world outside America for your own good.
Sounds like modern day segregation…shame on it all!
it’s scandalous and outrageous—immoral!
Why aren’t the child’s rights under the Mckinney Vento Act being upheld?? There are laws prohibiting school districts from denying access to homeless children specifically, so this mother was unlawfully jailed. As a homeless person, there is no definate home school.
I agree with your reaction. How can you be in the wrong school if you are homeless? The child, according to
Norwalk’s logic, has no school it is allowed to go to. So the answer of course is to fine and imprison the mother and find a foster home for the child. Give me a break.
The fact is this arrest violates the federal law McKinney Vento which upholds the right of homeless parents to enroll their children in any school that makes sense to their situation. If the family was extremely transient which it sounds like they were, and the child was spending considerable amounts of time in Norwalk, then the mother had the “right” to enroll her child there, even using a friends address for a point of communication. Most school districts are not knowledgable of McKinney Vento, and many children fall through the cracks because of it. Any lawyer worth a spit, could get this case dismissed, and perhaps even mount a lawsuit on her behalf, since she is the first person to be “arrested” for such an action, and it was unlawful as well. The school picked the wrong person to make an example of
I have just heard this news on CNN and I am thoroughly appalled and disgusted ! The USA today is ‘Dickensian’ like Victorian Britain. This woman was doing her best to get her 6 year old son educated and off to a good start in life. If they are homeless and going between two addresses, what was supposed to be their school district ? Instead of being praised for trying to do her best, she is thrown in jail, creating more problems. Who looked after her son when she was in jail, what about the distress caused to this child & mother ? These people where already in desperate circumstances,as if their day to day life wasn’t enough of a struggle. Her friend/babysitter who lived in the school district is then evicted from her public housing. Where is the money to come from to educate children when they and their famillies are evicted from their homes staying with friends and relatives or in their car in a parking lot. How are these people supposed to get their children educated so they can have a half decent start in life ? What if someone is working and paying taxes but on such a low wage they still don’t have housing ? Billions in bank bailouts not a cent being paid pack, billions paid to Israel & Egypt in military aid with an average of $2 Billion a year having been paid to Egypt since 1979. A lost economy, people’s jobs will not be coming back. Meanwhile the tax breaks continue for the rich and powerful. A shortage of Judges in the US and a homeless mother and her son & friend are treated in this dispicable way, what an appalling waste of tax payers dollars and a gross miscarriage of justice ! Shame on the US, your priorities are completely upside down !
This is a bunch of bolonga! more and more our school systems are taking over control of our children . It’s about the government money. Don’t we have better things to do than try to control whos children attends what school ? Shouldn’t we be satified that atleast she is sending the child to school? Government needs to tell the school boards to back off and control their oun kids! This makes me so angry , I wish the lord would just shut down all the schools and give control back to the parents because it’s been getting out of hand for a long time ! this is the reason for kids taking their lives and shootings in the schools , and the news stick up for the school boards and blame the parents!
Why are we punishing mothers who want a better life and education for their children? I dont understand………
She is in legal trouble, yet illegal aliens steal the same education. Illegal aliens “live” outside of the school districts, where their children are enrolled.This is why I am no longer feeling great about Obama.