A Letter To The Editor: At risk 14 y.o. Girl

My name is Robert Bacon and I have assumed temporary guardianship of a 14 year old girl who has not attended school in Wicomico county for almost a year and a half. She was living with her mother along with 4 other adults in a motel room and all the adults seem to have substance abuse problems. I live with her aunt who received her call for help. The child has told me she reached her breaking point when she gave up the bed provided by her mother to the only working adult in the room and was sleeping on the floor to allow this person a bed to sleep in. She said she was woke up around 3 am when someone spilled a full beer on her head and soaked her and her pillow. She said she was crying when she had to shower the alcohol off of her. Her aunt (my girlfriend) and I have taken her into our home and are providing a safe place for her to prosper. Her mother has granted us temporary guardianship and we have been trying to get her back to school. She does not wish to go back to school claiming some violence and harassment issues against her in the Wicomico County school she was attending. Her aunt and I are doing everything we can to get this child the education she needs.We have enroll her in home schooling .The child's father will be getting out of Wicomico County detention center for actions with his own substance abuse problems She is tired of his actions as well. He has been in jail a lot of times times and he has many pages on Maryland case search. The child`s comment on his release is "great, another homecoming, one more person to tell me what to do." I am so proud of this girl and her willingness to do right even under these conditions. She is trying above and beyond what I ever expected. The tough guy I sometimes feel I am has cried many times over this. As a recovering alcoholic myself, I have empathy for this child. I am upset over the fact that Wicomico County schools has allowed this child to be out of school for so long. Her aunt contacted the school and was told the child needed counseling but offered no assistance in the matter. It seems the Board has turned a blind eye to the situations of violence and harassment in the district, refusing to correct the problems and not offering help needed to children that have been affected by it. I am seeking help and advice in this matter and am sending this to many people.