Skip teacher conference -- and go to jail?
Worthy plan would make it illegal for parents to miss meetings about their kids in school
Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News
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.
Farr Jahr, senior director of communication for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, called the concept "rather unprecedented."
"Parental involvement in education is desirable, but there's hardly any benefit from government coercion," said Jahr. "Are kids going to be better off if they have a parent in jail?"
Worthy said her intention isn't to jail parents and would create exceptions for ill parents "as long as they are communicating with the school." She wants the law on the books to allow judges to order parents to attend the teacher meetings. Those who refuse the orders could face undisclosed fines or jail time.
Those penalties are still in the works, but Worthy said she wants to partner with superintendents, public officials, law enforcement and community groups.
"Those would be my dream partners," said Worthy. "I don't expect to get everyone, as I think this will be
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100614/SCHOOLS/6140339/Skip-teacher-conference----and-go-to-jail#ixzz0qq9jZh9w
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