The case of the jailed honor student

A story out of Texas has us wondering where the line is between the letter of the law and common sense.

Diane Tran spent a night in jail last week because she had more than 10 unexcused absences.

Tran works a full-time job, a part-time job and takes advanced placement and dual credit college level courses, according to KHOU TV in Houston. She helps support two siblings.

“She goes from job to job from school,” Devin Hill, one of Tran’s classmates, told KHOU-11. “She stays up until 7:00 in the morning doing her homework.”

The judge said he wants to make an example of the girl. “If you let one (truant student) run loose, what are you gonna’ do with the rest of ’em? Let them go too?”

Of course, the student already is an example.