Worthy proposes jail for parents who skip kids' school conferences

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Last Updated: October 20. 2010 1:00AM
Worthy proposes jail for parents who skip kids' school conferences
Prosecutor wants to punish those who skip kids' school conferences
Christine MacDonald / The Detroit News

Detroit — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy is pushing for a law that calls for jail time for parents who skip parent-teacher conferences, a plan some call inspired and others consider the nanny state run amok.

Worthy pitched her plan Tuesday to the Detroit City Council and is shopping it to the Wayne County Commission and state Legislature. Drawing a link between parental involvement and youth crime, Worthy wants a sponsor to guide the idea to law.

Her plan would require parents to attend at least one conference per year or face three days in jail. Parents of those excelling in school would be exempt, as would those whose health issues make travel difficult and those "actively engaged" with teachers through e-mail, phone calls or letters.

"We have to find any means necessary to get parents involved," Worthy told the council. "We have to start talking about prevention.

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101020/METRO/10200350/Worthy-proposes-jail-for-parents-who-skip-kids’-school-conferences#ixzz12uwNTCH3

[bluestateguy]

1. Well that's just stupid and a waste of tax dollars

But I do think that such parents should be needled, called on the phone every single day until they show up and if necessary have their names published in the newspaper.

Shame is a powerful too. But jail is going too far.

[LisaM]

2. Remember that women with the Detroit Public Schools who thought TEACHERS should go to jail?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x412923

[Stargazer99]

3. It might help if parents had decent job that allowed them time

to get to a meeting with the teachers. Only the well off have the time to meet their children's teachers. Another example why the "successful" are in no condition to tell the low-income worker how to conduct themselves.

[ladywnch]

5. thank you! with parents having to work 2 and 3 jobs to survive

demanding, under penalty of law, that parents take time off work to attend these conferences is beyond ludicrous. From what I've heard of these 'conferences' is a huge waste of time since most of them are scheduled within an inch of their lives - practically on a conveyor belt- and thou shall not exceed your alotted time. If you want to know how your kids are doing you'll have to schedule something on your own, keep in email contact with the teacher, or use the online tools (if available). And if you have multiple children in multiple schools (elem, middle, HS), they all either do them at the same time (and until transporters are available or cloning is legal you ain't gonna make it) or they are staggered and you now have to take multiple days off from work to attend.

This is ridiculous.

[KamaAina]

4. Hardly "Worthy" of consideration

unless, of course, Michigan's jails have somehow managed to escape the overcrowding that affects jails everywhere else. :eyes:

[greiner3]

6. I could not find a contact for Ms. Worthy;

So I emailed her boss, I guess;

Concerning Ms. Worthy's recent call for a law that will allow for jail time for parents who do not attend parent teacher conferences, I propose the 'Cheech and Chong' method; whack their pee pee. this will get their attention. Please let me know how my suggestion goes over with the powers that be. Living in Columbus OH a law such as this may be emulated here for such offenses.
Sincerely,

Do you think I will be in receipt of a response, other than the robo one that acknowledges any correspondence?

Interesting opportunity for a poll. Haven't seen too many of those lately.

[Downwinder]

8. Be cheaper to offer them $1,000 if they attend the meeting.

[gmoney]

11. but then ALL the parents would stop attending meetings

hoping to qualify for the $1000 incentive.

[fascisthunter]

7. um... yeah, not such a good idea

I understand wanting to motivate parents to do the right thing, problem is, they work in a sociopathic economic system that doesn't give parents the time they need to do what right for their kids. This does NOT go to all, but I know for a fact, lower income folks have it really hard when it comes to bringing their kids up.

[TygrBright]

9. Yeh. That'll work. n/t

:eyes:

:banghead:

speechlessly,
Bright

[gmoney]

10. 3 days should be just long enough...

for the parent to lose his/her job, and get brutally beaten and/or raped while in jail. All things that promote responsible parenting.

[groundloop]

12. Parents SHOULD go to teacher conferences, but this woman needs to face reality

Pure and simple DUMB IDEA. Ms. Worthy is more than likely just looking for free publicity.

[Luciferous]

13. What a moron... while I think that it's important for parents to be

involved this is just going about it the wrong way.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Forcing lousy parents to attend one conference a year will not transform them into good parents