[kmomteach]

Okay so maybe it is a valid excuse in New York but really it is not where I live so the parents really need a new excuse!

[twinzplus3]

That is true. . .I'm just giving you a hard time.

[tbrogan]

This was a recent topic of debate here in the Atlanta metro area. Some parents of high schoolers were actually jailed because their children were not going to school. The school system sited the parents for educational neglect. I think the punishment was quite harsh myself.
For pre-schoolers who are habitually late (not the occasional lateness-this happens to everyone), the parents should definitely be held accountable. As far as what should be done, I don't know, but I do think jailing the parents is a bit harsh. After all, if the parents are in jail, the student's chances of getting to school at all is decreased. For high schoolers, I think they should be held accountable for themselves unless the parents are directly involved in their tardiness or absenteism. I don't think that the parents should be punished if they are not at fault. As one parent cited, she is a single mom who has several children to take care of in addition to working; she can not be held accountable.

[punkytina]

My childrens school hours are :9.00 am to 3.15 pm (those are at primary school that is for ages 4-10) and my son is at high school :8.15am - 3.05pm (thats for children ages 11 - 16).. My 'high school' son walks himself to school, across the field and up a path way.. takes about 10 minutes, my primary children , i walk them up to the local shops, where they carry onto school (about 3 minutes, if that) and i go and buy the items i need etc.. In UK it is a parents responsibilty for your 'child' age 4 - 16 to get into school on time, even if it means walking them all the way. But how many 13/14/15/16 year olds wants to be walked to school by their mom?? they then say, that means the child will make more of an effort to be early, but its not always the case ( my 16 year old daughter left high school in June, she hated school and never got there until 11 am) I was being blamed by the E.W.O (Education Welfare Officer) for her lates and non attendance, but at 15/16 its not like she would walk to school with me, she usually went the other way.. what was i meant to do? drag her by her hair kicking and screaming and get myself arrested for child abuse?? I think not! as i told her head of year, its her last year we need to compromise or im going to be the one that ends up fined or in jail... So the head of her year put Amber on Home Schooling and that worked for us. She then went on to get passes in the 6 GCSE's she took.. so i think its unfair for parents to be totally blamed if the child is late as its not always their fault, even when some of us send their kids to school, they then go and hang about or knock for a friend , that can make them late.. In school, thats for the teachers to decide what to do with them,(detention,report etc)

[jmmv08]

I think school needs to give consideration or finding out first what is going on before punishing anyone. Sometimes there are things that are out of our control.