School Loses Student on the First Day — Seriously?!

When Angela Maldonado took her son Daren Hernandez, 4, to his first day of pre-kindergarten this week in Yonkers, New York, she rightly expected to take him home later in the day, too.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen as smoothly as it should have. That's because the school lost Daren. Schools lose funding. Schools lose good teachers. Maybe schools lose unhealthy lunches. But school loses student? Not supposed to happen.

According to Cafe Mom (via Lohud.com), Maldonado walked Daren to school, and when she returned to pick him up, he wasn't there. Worse? They said there were no students named "Daren."

Related: The 10 worst things about going back to school

It took more than two hours for Maldonado to track down her son. As it turns out, he was accidentally put on a bus by his teacher and when no one came to get him, he was brought to the Board of Education office.

Making matters worse? (As if that's possible...) The school was so unhelpful, telling her that he "probably ran off" that Maldonado had to call in the police to assist her efforts.

No one's perfect, but there are times when nothing short of perfection is expected. Like watching over kids. Some schools put tags on the backpacks of their youngest students for how they get home every day is crystal clear to their teachers and bus drivers. Other schools have other systems in place. No matter the system at the school in question, they need a new one. And to act indifferent when a child goes missing? They need a serious slap detention.

Grade: F

-By Meredith Carroll

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