Detroit prosecutor wants to jail parents who skip conferences with teacher

[proud2BlibKansan]

Detroit--Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy wants to make it illegal for parents to skip parent-teacher conferences.

It's a plan that's still in the works, and Worthy acknowledges it faces a tough sell. But she said she's so concerned about truancy and juvenile crime that she wants an ordinance that would force parents to attend at least one conference a year -- or face jail.

"If they come (to the conferences), they will be more engaging in their children's education," Worthy told The Detroit News.

"There is a link between truancy and parental involvement."

Worthy said she's working with the Wayne County Commission and hopes to introduce a proposal in August. She unveiled the idea during a neighborhood meeting last week, and it's already drawing praise and scorn.

More . . http://www.detnews.com/article/20100614/SCHOOLS/6140339/Skip-teacher-conference----and-go-to-jail?.

[saltpoint]

1. Parental investment in kids' lives is a valid concern but

let's not get carried away.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Will she jail employers who won't let parents have time off?

Should prosecutors be determining what is legal or not?

Busybody.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. The Family and Medical Leave Act covers school conferences

Don't think it allows for jail time however. :)

[jtuck004]

4. Where's the kid gonna be while they're in jail? n.t.

[SoCalDem]

5. the next cell

:(

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. At the loving neighbor's who will be baking cookies and helping with homework

:)

[JCMach1]

6. There is ALSO a difference between attending a conference and parental involvement

that is all...

[Kber]

8. Really?

Are they going to offer time slots that work with parents' work schedules. Will teachers be required to stay later? Will employers be *required* to give employees the time off. Will parents be allowed to make up the lost time at work so that their paychecks don't suffer?

Look, I understand the impulse to *force* parental involvement. But, as a working mom myself, I also understand that it's not that I don't want to be more involved. I'd love the be the class mom, go on the field trips, bring cookies and read to the kids. But I can't. I want to. But I can't. And it sucks. And threatening me with jail time really isn't necessary to make me work as hard as I can to be as involved as I can.

Want to help? Pass a living wage law that allows parents to work one job instead of three. Educate employers on their responsibilities requiring parents to take time off to attend school events. Encourage schools to consider working parents and single parents when they plan certain events like parent teacher conferences. And build an understanding and welcoming partnership between parents and the school. I think the the message of force and jail could fatally undermine the constructive relationship they are trying to create.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I do not approve of jailing parents

but I have worked with many parents who find the time to establish a relationship with school in spite of their busy schedules.

Then there are those who never come to school, don't sign notes, don't return phone calls, and yes, don't even provide a correct address to the school.

Even after all these years as a teacher I can't relate to that parent who never once attempts to communicate with the school. And most folks are amazed by how many parents are like that.

[butterfly77]

19. Some of these parents..

Can't get to the meetings the schools are miles away from their houses in some cases. Some of the meetings are at night and they would have to catch public transportation to get there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. All they need to do is pick up the phone and call

Phone calls count as conferences.

[butterfly77]

25. I agree..

[pipi_k]

9. What a stupid idea

If a parent has to be threatened with jail to attend a parent-teacher conference, that's going to make the parent more involved?

No. All it's going to do is force a parent to be there to hear whatever the teacher has to say, then life goes on as before.


I know this person probably means well, but she obviously hasn't given much thought to it.

You can't FORCE people to care.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Do you have another idea?

I don't. I don't want to jail them but parents need to be involved somehow.

[pipi_k]

14. Forcing parents to attend a conference doesn't equate to "involving" them

Do I have any other ideas?

I have quite a few, but I don't know if they're any more feasible than putting non-involved parents in jail.

How can you MAKE parents care who DON'T care?

Parenting classes?

Psychological testing before people even become parents? Maybe parenthood shouldn't even be a "right". Surely not if there are people who pop out kid after kid and don't give a shit what happens to them.

What about parents who might suffer from some sort of disorder like GAD or Social Anxiety Disorder or Agoraphobia? They might be extremely involved at home, but be unable to leave the home without terrible anxiety or panic attacks.

And vice versa...you could get a parent who shows up for the conference who merely goes through the motions and has minimal interest or time for the rest of it at home.


It never ceases to amaze me how many people think they have a real simple, effective answer to a complicated issue.


No other answers? Hell. We'll just put people in jail, then.

:eyes:

[Bluzmann57]

12. Sounds like overkill to me.

Lets hope this idea gets shot down quickly.

[Iggo]

13. Detroit prosecutor wants to be in all the papers. (n/t)

[blue_onyx]

20. I doubt that's her reason

She's been in the news plenty the last few years.

[MicaelS]

15. Things like this are suggested, and then educators wonder why

The Public hates teachers, their unions, and school admins. :puke: :nuke:

And proud2BlibKansan, while FMLA allows time off for this, what it doesn't do is replaced the lost wages the parent incurs attending those conferences. You take hours off for a conference, that might mean the difference between paying a bill, or not. Plenty of food, or not. Not to mention that the fact it could destroy your chances of making overtime. With so many businesses trying to make as many employees as possible in to part-time to avoid incurring any health care responsibly, suggestions like this are madness.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. The woman suggesting this is not an educator, she's a prosecutor

So please don't slam teachers for this idea. Personally I think it's an insane idea.

As for parents being involved, a phone call takes 5 minutes. If you don't have time to at least call your child's teachers a few times a year I have a problem with you. I was also a working parent and I had 2 or 3 jobs. But I talked to my children's teachers regularly. I considered it part of being a good parent.

I had 2 kids this year whose parents didn't even give us correct addresses. After several phone calls were not returned we mailed letters which were returned as 'Not at this address'. A couple years ago a kid nearly died and was rushed to the ER and it took 12 hours to even find her parent. No correct phone numbers or addresses were on file.

I can tell lots of stories like this. It's becoming all too common. Wish I knew the answer. But I do go out of my way to communicate with parents and so do most of my co-workers. When a kid knows we can't contact anyone, he/she takes advantage of that and is a distraction for the entire class. So I strongly support any plan that gets parents involved with the school.

[pipi_k]

18. I don't mean to be a wise guy or anything...

however, I'm having trouble with what sounds like a mixed message you seem to be sending.

On one side you say you think the idea is "insane". That you don't want to see parents jailed.

On the other side you also say you support any plan that gets parents involved with the school. Does that, or does that not, include jailing non-communicative parents?

I understand the frustration, really I do.

But you can't force parents to be involved.


The one thing I will say in support of bringing the law into it is that parents who provide false phone numbers or addresses should be reported to the police, if only in the interests of safety.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I don't consider jail a sensible plan

I can't imagine why it would be.

I also don't understand what the police can do if we don't have contact info for parents. That's not exactly against the law.

[dembotoz]

17. please do not tell my 14 yr old

he treats what happens at school stays at school.

good enough student
not a discipline problem

he has gotten awards that we have never heard about.

Is he in training for the CIA?

but i can truly see myself being lead away in handcuffs saying
"Conference??? What conference"

[LWolf]

24. We send announcements home requiring parent signatures

when conferences are coming up. Those students that don't bring back a signature indicating that their parents are aware of conferences spend their lunch calling home or work to explain it to them.

We also keep it posted on the school website and our individual class websites, and encourage parents to keep up that way, as well.

We also have them write it in their planners, in ink, which also require a daily parent signature as a pass to recess.

We're always trying to improve, and add to, communication tools to keep middle school parents in the loop. ;)

[LWolf]

23. I hope she's willing to pay for extra duty

to keep teachers available during evening and weekend hours so that parents don't have to lose work time.

It's certainly vital for student success that parents be a part of the team. I don't think authoritarian laws will be effective in that effort any more than they are effective at improving instruction and achievement.

How about truly supporting and funding all aspects of education, including funding time spent reaching out to parents, inviting them, welcoming them, and including them in the school community instead?