Homeless Woman Faces 20 Years for Enrolling Son in Wrong District

Once again we are arresting the wrong people. The school board should be arrested for creating an education system that is unequal, unfair and should be illegal. How many more parents are going to be arrested for this crime? This mother was homeless. Can you imagine how her 6 year old felt when his mother was arrested? This is completely unacceptable.

The Connecticut mother who enrolled her 6-year-old son into a Norwalk elementary school instead of a Bridgeport school is now facing larceny charges.

Tanya McDowell, who is set to be arraigned today, is now being charged with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny for allegedly stealing $15,686 from Norwalk schools. According to the Stamford Advocate, this is the first time Connecticut has prosecuted a parent for sending a child outside of his or her district. If convicted, McDowell faces up to 20 years in prison.

Despite hundreds of complaints and supporters of McDowell, Norwalk officials feel they are doing nothing wrong:

"This is not a poor, picked-upon homeless person," said Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia on Monday. "This is an ex-con, and somehow the city of Norwalk is made into the ogre in this. She has a checkered past at best ... We're a very compassionate city. She knew how to post bond, she had a car -- why didn't she send her kid to the Bridgeport school? This woman is not a victim, and Norwalk is not an ogre. As far as I'm concerned, let them say what they want."

"Ogre" is an understatement, Moccia. Regardless of where this woman lived, she simply wanted her son to get a decent education. She may have violated county regulations, but to face 20 years for it is preposterous. Norwalk should be embarrassed and ashamed of itself. Whatever message they're trying to send to future offenders has been drowned out by the cruel and unusual punishment they're trying to inflict upon this woman.

www.theroot.com