THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 5, 1995 TAG: 9509050031
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
Many parents in Virginia welcome it, some resent it and others lament that society has come to this: That a law is needed to make moms and dads responsible for their children.
But with the start of another school year today, parents of the commonwealth's 1 million schoolchildren will have to face up to it. A new law this year will hold them accountable if they refuse to help schools discipline their unruly children.
Parents face a $500 fine for failing to cooperate.
Kids in most Hampton Roads school districts today are supposed to carry home a form that parents must sign and return to school as an ``acknowledgment of parental responsibility.'' Norfolk officials mailed the ``contract'' to homes last week.
Parents who don't return the form can be fined $50.
Some parents have just heard about the law, and have mixed feelings.
``I suppose the intent is good, but I think it's a poor reflection on our society that the state has to get involved to mandate for people what they should be doing on their own,'' said Spencer McPherrin, a parent with three children in Chesapeake schools.
``Parents shouldn't have to be legislated - it's their responsibility, not the schools', to take charge of their children.''
School officials couldn't agree more. Most parents, they said, are supportive and will be unaffected by the law.
The legislation was crafted carefully to avoid misuse, officials said. Principals also must sign the contract, pledging to enforce discipline policies ``consistently and fairly'' and to ``work with each parent to address their concerns.''
Schools can seek fines or other relief through the juvenile and domestic relations courts. But they must prove that a parent or guardian ``willfully and unreasonably failed to cooperate'' with school officials who asked them to help discipline a problem child.
Parents will have to cooperate in managing their child's conduct on school buses, at school and at school-sponsored activities.
While the law was directed at a minority of uncooperative parents, it may be the price everyone pays for better schools, officials said.
``We can't do it alone. We have to have parental support,'' Norfolk Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said. ``I agree that you cannot legislate responsibility, but you can inform them of their responsibility.''
Local school administrators said they see only positives.
``I think it's just another channel of communication between the school and the parent,'' said Bruce Biehl, principal of Bayside Middle. ``The schools are taking a proactive stance here - this is what you can expect from us, and this is what we expect from the parent.''
Parents like Lenora Willard-Yates, with two children in Portsmouth schools, applaud the idea.
``It's long been due, because many parents look at the school system as a baby-sitting service and look too much to schools to manage their children,'' Willard-Yates said. ``They have to try something to correct the situation for those students who want to learn.''
Local school districts reported thousands of suspensions for 1994-95, which highlighted the need for parents' involvement. Under the law, parents would have to meet with principals to re-admit a suspended child or face a fine of up to $500.
Virginia Beach middle and high schools recorded 18,132 suspensions for disobedience, disrespect and disruption.
Norfolk schools reported 9,015 cases of insubordination toward teachers and 7,312 cases of disruption. The city's schools expelled 147 students and placed 864 on long-term suspension.
Portsmouth recorded 2,903 suspensions, including 759 for fighting; Suffolk had 4,983 suspensions, of which 644 were for defiance or disrespect of teachers and staff; and Chesapeake had 13 expulsions, but could not provide the number of suspensions.
Virginia's General Assembly, reacting to calls for safer and more orderly schools, passed the parental-responsibility requirement in the 1995 session. The Allen administration endorsed it.
Vickie J. Hendley, president of the Virginia Beach Education Association, said the law should reduce misbehavior.
``I don't think it's just a `warm fuzzy,' '' Hendley said. ``I think it makes teachers feel more comfortable being strict disciplinarians knowing they have the support from their principals, the school board and the community.''
A few parents, however, say the General Assembly missed the point. Rather than going after parents, said Phyllis Thompson, past president of a Norfolk school PTA, officials should go to the source of the problem: the kids.
``We need to help students with problem solving and social skills and to empower the kids and make them more accountable for their actions,'' Thompson said.
Thompson said some children could be hurt by the law and some parents facing fines might turn abusive.
``If you've got to go to that extreme to get a parent to cooperate,'' she asked, ``how do you think that's going to make that child feel?'' ILLUSTRATION: TO GET INVOLVED
Community and parental involvement is seen as a key element in
improving public schools. If you have ideas for improving the
education system, here's your chance:
To foster citizen deliberation of important community issues, The
Virginian-Pilot is working with the nonpartisan Community Networking
Association. Beginning the first week of October, discussion groups
throughout Hampton Roads will meet weekly for seven weeks to
consider ways to improve education.
Businesses, groups or individuals interested in supporting this
project may contact the Community Networking Association at
495-8301. (Citizens who have responded to earlier invitations to
join the forums do not need to call.)
INFOLINE
If you would like to be part of the upcoming forums on education,
serve as a moderator of a group or find out more about the project,
call INFOLINE at 640-5555, press 3535. Please state your name,
hometown, phone number and the best time to reach you. A project
representative will contact you to provide more details.
KEYWORDS: DISCIPLINE SCHOOLS EDUCATION VIRGINIA OMNIBUS EDUCATION ACT
OF 1995 by CNB