"Hi, Mrs. Johnson? This is Timmy's teacher. I was just calling to tell you that you missed your parent conference yesterday and I am now forced to contact the police."
Can you imagine hearing a message like this on your answering machine. While this is an extreme example, it is something that is being proposed by Detroit prosecutor Kym Worthy. In desperate attempt to turn around a struggling school system with poor student performance, she has suggested jail time to hold parents accountable. While it would only be in extreme cases, she has outlined legislation that would punish parents who do not attend a parent teacher conference after four attempts to schedule one. In defending her stance she was quoted in Essence Magazine saying "The government already regulates your behavior when it comes to your children, so this is nothing new." The problem is it is very new and not very well thought out.
I fully recognize that the educational system needs to be changed. My heart goes out to teachers who deal with unruly kids, uncooperative parents and unsporting administration but this is not the way to fix things. There are parents who truly struggle to meet the demand of daily existence. Facing jail because they can not get off work, is not fair to the parent, the child or an overburdened penal system. If you want a positive change, you reward positive behavior. If you want a parent to come to a conference, why not offer a free childcare while they are there, or a tax incentive for being a good parent. I know Ms. Worthy you are a prosecutor and sending people is your job, but not everyone deserves to go.
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