According to ABC News’ Children Late for School, Parents Charged in Virginia, the Virginia school district had the sheriff’s deputy’s handcuff and arrest Maureen Blake while hosting a slumber party for her children. It seems that Blake was responsible for her children being tardy ten times since the start of this school year. Apparently she had the same problem last year and paid around $2,000 in fines.
District spokesman Wayde Byard said, “Even when they’re a minute late… it’s very disruptive.” Executive Director of the American Association of School Administrators, Dan Domenech, says that parents have to understand it’s not just about them and their child. “The disruptive factor, the security factor, the bad-example factor” are all concerns for Domenech.
Undoubtedly it is disruptive when children walk in late; although it is apparent the district is not doing anything to deter this behavior. They continue to allow these children to disrupt class, as long as they continue to pay their fines. So you can be tardy as long as you pay; this is another example of a school district appearing to do something; not actually doing anything, but appearing to do it. That is what America’s educational leaders are seemingly concerned with; the perception of doing something without ever changing anything.
Mark Denicore, an attorney, who also faces misdemeanor charges for his children showing up late, asked a few very relevant questions, “What else is causing a disruption? Passing a note? Chewing gum? Are they going to charge the parents?”
Without a doubt those questions have not even touched the surface. Passing notes and chewing gum would be a cake walk in today’s classrooms. What about charging the child who back talks the teacher; causes fights in the classroom; refuses to do what is asked, etc., etc., etc.?
When I first read this I must admit I was at a loss for words, obviously I have moved past that. Nevertheless, here we are again concerned more for those who are absent verses those who choose to be present. I agree that something needs to be done, however it should be done for all disruptions. We should not waste time on taking them to court and fining them; after one or two tardies we simply refuse them entrance to school. Tell them they will not be allowed in school that day and try again tomorrow; stops the disruptions and does not waste the courts time.
To follow up on Denicore questions, I cannot help but wonder – if they are so concerned with the tardies being so disruptive, why is there so little concern for those students that disrespect teachers; that do not behave in class; that treat other children brutally? It seems the district, actually America’s entire school system, is more concerned with the three cockroaches on the playground than the pack of pit-bulls in the classrooms.
If parents do not think it is important enough to bring their children to school or bring them on time – that is on the parents. Parenting is not the job of the school districts. However, all disruptions should be the responsibility of the school system; children whose parents do not care about education should not be allowed to disrupt the education of the children and parents who do care.
Our leaders are so mixed up and if it were not such a tragedy for our children it would almost be laughable. Ask yourself, why is it so important for America’s education leaders to have our schools become the parents to all children? The lone purpose I can conceive of is so they might control these children as they develop into adults. Remember an uneducated society is much easier to manipulate.
Don’t let them fool you. It’s about money. If the child is not in school then the state does not fund for that day so they need butts in the seats. Why do you think the fine the parents? Money, it’s always money.
However parents need to have their kids to school…on time.
I believe the teachers desire to do a good job so when you see bad results ask why their bosses don’t get what they need.
Posted by hbyt | March 13, 2012, 11:46 pmAs true as that may be, tardy has nothing to do with money. From the beginning of schools until the end of September are the count days. If they have enrolled by then and have not been expelled during that time then the school gets the money. Even if they are there only once and have shown up late everyday.
Believe me it is more about the perception of caring.
Posted by Jim Blockey | March 14, 2012, 10:19 amThank you for this interesting information Mr Blockey and I commend you for your bravery for not allowing them to shut your mouth. This information and your expertise is valuable. I will continue to follow your blog to stay updated on your thoughts about the State of the School Districts.
Michael.
Posted by Michael Franklin (@MCNM_Marketing) | March 14, 2012, 11:12 amThank You Michael… I appreciate your support.
Please give all your friends this site.
Jim
Posted by Jim Blockey | March 14, 2012, 11:53 amHere are some thoughts: tardiness gets attention because they are a nuisance … to the front office. Those other disruptions, not so.
Charging a fine just makes things worse. There was a great example in Freakonomics of a daycare that implemented a fine for parents late to pickup their kids. It just gave the parents more of a license to be late.
Finally, Jim gets at a great big elephant the reformers continue to ignore: behavior that disrupts learning. This would be that of the student who disrupts his own learning by refusing to engage, and the behavior of the student who disrupts the learning of the group. As long as the accepted idea is that only the teacher is responsible for classroom management and problems in the classroom are an indicator of a teacher’s weakness, the elephant will continue to roam free.
Posted by Peter Smyth | March 15, 2012, 6:10 amI will go you one further… any classroom management by the teachers takes away valuable learning time from the students. Not that teachers should be free of it, there are many things that can be handled immediately without losing too much time, as long as it is not a consistent problem; however a large majority of the classroom management, especially the discipline problems, should be handled by upper management… know as administration.
Posted by Jim Blockey | March 16, 2012, 2:47 pmThis kind of thing is an epidemic in Virginia, Not only are schools bullying parents, but local prosecutors and juvenile courts are complicit. The prosecutors bring unsustainable charges and the courts hold hearings in secret so other parents don’t know that they’re not alone. We are gathering information through the virginia freedom of information act, some of which can be found on our website at http://pisste.org. we also have a petition at change.org here: https://www.change.org/petitions/staunton-city-schools-stop-unjustified-prosecutions-of-parents-for-truancy#
Posted by A. Parent | May 6, 2012, 11:26 am