Children with Bad Grades Get Police Escort Home

Reuters ^ | June 16 2002

[2Trievers]

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Authorities in eastern Turkey have set up a hotline and are providing police escorts for schoolchildren who do poorly in their annual reports and fear punishment at home, officials said on Friday.

"We are sending out escorts to schools for children who are afraid to go home because they've failed or have low grades," said a police officer in the city of Erzurum.

"If it's necessary, we will talk to the family. It's also to let the family know we will protect the children," he said.

Two children had already telephoned police on a special hotline to ask for help and police were patrolling neighborhoods where they felt children were at risk, he added.

Aysegul Salgin, a pediatrician in Istanbul, said doctors report a rise in child abuse each June when report cards arrive.

"There are many children in Turkey who will be beaten tonight."

Salgin said Turkey's overcrowded and competitive school system places great pressure on students, who see education as a ticket out of economic hardship. Public universities are tuition-free, but only a minority of students enroll.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Bart Simpson would say, "Kewl, a ride in the cruiser!"

[xJones]

Albert Einstein wouldn't have survived under this system.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Aysegul Salgin, a pediatrician in Istanbul, said doctors report a rise in child abuse each June when report cards arrive.

Yeah, right, just like the fraudulent media reports a few years back that wife-beating peaks on Super Bowl Sunday.

[mhking]

Aysegul Salgin, a pediatrician in Istanbul, said doctors report a rise in child abuse each June when report cards arrive.

Oh please...

[2Trievers]

This is from a culture that has been known to purposely maim their children so they beg on the streets with them by their side for alms. &;-)

[Paul Atreides]

Imagine what Chelsea would get.

[Teacher317]

Eww!