As the fall semester wears on, parents are dealing with all kinds of issues, like whether their children are passing math class or if they're practicing enough for the school band. Some parents are dealing with another kind of problem: truancy.
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Some don't know their kids are skipping school; others know and don't care. I asked MyNewsOK users about parental responsibility. If a child skips school, should the parent be in trouble? Here's what they had to say.
Kristie Smith of Noble: "Parents should be held accountable. I also believe that teachers and school administration should also be accountable. Without the teachers calling the parents and helping them find the child, there is no way for parents to be able to manage. I know it's frustrating sometimes to always call about the same kids, but one day those kids will grow up and you both will be the reason. We are and should be all accountable for our children skipping school.”
Stephanie Green of Oklahoma City: "It is not always the parent's fault. I have a friend whose son skipped school, smoked and got into other kinds of trouble and both parents worked very hard to straighten him out. Their other son is very well behaved and excels in school. I agree that parents need to take responsibility and teach their children right from wrong, but at some point, as children get older, they start making decisions that they know are not ones their parents would have them make.”
Bryan Jensen of Edmond: "When my kid skipped school I forced him to sit at the table and stare at a nickel for hours. The sheer terror of it made him never do it again.”
I have to say, this punishment is hilarious. No wonder it worked — no kid wants to have to do something that horrendously boring. When I have kids someday, I'm going to make them stare at nickels.
Jason Sutton of Oklahoma City: "Parents should be held responsible for all of their children's actions. Listen up folks, if your kid is not going to school ... it is your fault. Kids learn. You should be doing the teaching.”
Suzan Hooper of Oklahoma City: "Yes, but not to the extent where it may cost the parent their job. Sitting in the classroom with their child for a while might help and other various scenarios, but if it continues to happen, make the kids join the military.”
Lynn Green of Oklahoma City: "All too often, there is no parent in a child's life. Absentee fathers, working mothers, drug addiction, jail, spouse abuse and so on rob children of the parents they need. I once had a mother break down in my classroom during a parent/teacher conference. ... She often had to do extra hours at her job. She sobbed, ‘I know my child is out doing things he shouldn't, but I'm not around to keep him at home where he should be.' I felt helpless, and she is becoming more the rule than the exception in our society.”
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I agree with Suzan Hooper that parents could stop truancy by sitting in class with students. I've had a lot of parents complain that they can't make their kids go to school. Here's my solution. If a child skips school, accompany him/her the next day. Make arrangements with the school (don't surprise them) to spend the whole day with your child. Wear pajamas and a bathrobe, don't style your hair or wear make-up. Bring a folding lawn chair so you can sit right next to him/her. Give love pats, encouragement to answer questions, verbal praise, etc. Lovingly explain, "You and your education are too important to me to allow you to miss out on the opportunity you've been given to learn. I want you to be successful and have a good job when you grow up. If you can't attend school on your own, I'll be glad to go with you every day." He/she will be too embarrassed to skip again. Children, especially teenagers, want to see you get angry. Anger and punishment won't work. Show love and affection but be willing to do whatever it takes to keep them in school.
When parents say they can't make their child do something, it's because they waited until the child had already learned that the parent isn't serious and shouldn't be obeyed.
I see too many parents being enablers. Students miss school but with permission from their parents. Some parents call repeatedly to excuse their children. School policies on absences are much more lenient than any employer will be. Excusing absences doesn't teach responsibility.
So, yes, the parents should be held accountable. The parents are responsible until the child has graduated from school.
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
When parents say they can't make their child do something, it's because they waited until the child had already learned that the parent isn't serious and shouldn't be obeyed.
I see too many parents being enablers. Students miss school but with permission from their parents. Some parents call repeatedly to excuse their children. School policies on absences are much more lenient than any employer will be. Excusing absences doesn't teach responsibility.
So, yes, the parents should be held accountable. The parents are responsible until the child has graduated from school.