I searched to see if this had already been done, but if my search-fu is off, Mods, feel free to delete my pit.
Now, on to the pitting:
This fuckwit, er, TX Representative from Baytown (Rep. Wayne Smith, R - Baytown) filed a bill that would allow parents of public school students to be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and fine if they miss a scheduled parent-teacher conference.
The parent(s) would need to have a “good excuse” to avoid all that. In the bill, it’s proposed that schools would send parents a certified letter with three proposed meeting dates. If the parents don’t respond or schedule a meeting and then don’t show without prior notice, they could be charged.
Buttmunch Rep. Smith says he “wants to get parents involved in their child’s education”.
:smack: And there’s nothing like the threat of criminal charges for missing a conference to get that accomplished!
Rep. Smith also had this to say on the subject (From the Foxnews.com article):
“I think it helps the kids for the parents and teachers to communicate. That’s all the intent was,” Smith said, adding he talked to teachers, including his daughter, who teaches in junior high, before filing the bill.
“The concept is to get parents in the classroom,” he said.
Well, no shit, Sherlock, it usually does help kids when parents and teachers communicate with each other. Knowing you might be charged with a crime for missing a parent-teacher conference just doesn’t seem like the best fucking way to encourage open communications and get parents more involved.
So, if I have an accident and I miss a parent-teacher conference, I need to be prepared to present my case as to why I missed the conference and hope they consider it a reasonable fucking excuse?
I have kids, and I keep my scheduled appointments with their teachers. But shit has a way of happening at the most inopportune times and I do not want to be hauled up before a judge to offer my “reasonable excuse” as to why I missed a parent-teacher conference. That’s why the teacher has a goddamned telephone and e-mail account. I will take it up with him/her personally and deal with it at his/her level.
So, Rep. Smith just intended to help parents and teachers “communicate” by filing this bill. I don’t have any problems communicating with my kid’s teacher and I don’t need your fucking “help”, asshole.
Even the most jerkoff, difficult parents who miss conferences, whether intentionally or unintentionally don’t need to be put through the justice system to get them to keep conference appointments.
If a teacher is finding that a parent is that difficult - or impoverished, or juggling three jobs, or doesn’t have a car, or has a language barrier and is afraid of going to a conference, fearing they’re going to have to “go up against” the teacher - it isn’t going to suddenly make them bow down and give thanks for making them see the light through a misdemeanor charge.
It’s a little thing called diplomacy. If the teacher can’t get cooperation on conference attendance from the parents, send it up the teacher’s chain of command - not to the cops. I just cannot see how this should be a law enforcement issue. Am I missing something here?
Granted, the article goes on about how passage of this bill is a really long shot, and how parents could be charged, not necessarily *have to be * charged, blah blah blah - but still. :rolleyes:
I seem to remember some saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions…
