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Colorado Law Would Let Parents be More Involved in School
Filed under: In The News
A new law that would give parents time off for school events like parent-teacher conferences won preliminary approval in the Colorado House of Representatives Friday and may soon be headed for the state Senate.The statute would force employers to give parents time off to deal with educational matters like disciplinary issues, truancy, special-education services, response to interventions, drop-out prevention and attendance problems.
Opponents of the bill say it could discourage companies from locating in Colorado, and that it places an unfair burden on businesses. The law would only apply to full-time workers and would not cover independent contractors, domestic servants working in a private home, seasonal workers or ranch hands.
Those in favor of the measure say educating Colorado's children is not just the responsibility of parents, but is also a "community responsibility."
So now we have to legislate when and how parents can deal with their children's education? This is, in a word, ridiculous. Yes, it takes a village and all that, but is it really necessary to enact a law forcing employers to give parents time off to deal with their truant kids?
And I'm sorry, but if truancy is that big a deal in your house, then this law isn't going to solve that problem.
I get that some folks need to take time off during the day to attend to matters like parent-teacher conferences or special-education committee meetings. That stuff is important. However, most white-collar workers are almost always able to get time off during the day. I know, because I was a white-collar worker.
The people most is need of this kind of law are the ones who aren't covered: the migrant worker, the ranch hand, the nanny -- these are the folks whose bosses might be less forgiving of an absence.
The Colorado measure is viewed by some as burden to business and by others as a way to help "legislate good parenting." But really, can good parenting be legislated? And so what if you miss one parent-teacher conference? Is that a one-way ticket to the Bad Parenting Hall of Shame?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-09-2009 @ 3:26PM
Karen said...Dumb idea that places an unfair burden on the employer.
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2-09-2009 @ 4:48PM
CLM said...Well, this is the country in which states have had to legislate the right to take off time from work to vote because businesses were denying people one of the basic rights of a citizen. Everyone complains because parents aren't more involved with the schools, but seem perfectly happy to ignore the fact that often those parents are actively prevented from doing so. I say let's see how the law plays out. If it places an undue burden on businesses, then it will eventually get fixed. If it doesn't, then more parents might be able to participate in the educational system.
Reply
2-09-2009 @ 5:09PM
Joy said...I feel this is unfair to employer's as well. I also believe that parents who want to participate will and those who "blame" the old "I can't get off work" card still won't participate. They'll take their time off and do nothing. My husband and I went to plenty of conferences in the evening. Some teachers bend over backwards to meet with parents.
I have never had an employer who told me I couldn't take time off if I needed to be somewhere for an hour or so. This is just an excuse to those who are "blamers."
Reply
2-09-2009 @ 5:11PM
Steph said...I'm not understanding the post-writer's hostility here. How is this "legislating when and how parents can deal with their children's education?" It's not forcing you to go to to meetings you don't want to attend. It just means they have to allow you to go and that you can't be fired for it. And it's only full time employees in companies with over 50 workers (like the Family Medical Leave act). So tiny companies that might have trouble replacing the employee's time are off the hook.
I could understand employers being worried about how to accomadate this, but not parents getting upset. There's no action taken against you if you don't go to the school. It helps those who want to take part but can't. In my researching the homeschool option and our school system, the one thing that comes up over and over is that getting families involved is key to giving children a better education. Somehow business needs always seem to come before those of our educational system. There are legitamate reasons for parents to need to meet with teachers during the work day-not just for habitual truants. This seems like an aid to parents who might otherwise have trouble staying current with their children's lives and education.
I do agree that the people who most need a law like this are the ones not covered-part time workers, people in very low-paying jobs, people whose bosses know they have few other options.
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2-09-2009 @ 5:55PM
Gena said...I totally agree with you. The problem with this country right now is that we believe in corporate welfare but not the welfare of our own children. It's a shame that people are held hostage by their jobs, afraid to nurse themselves and their families for fear of being fired or denied opportunity for advancement. Our economic system already has us locked to where you need a two-income family just to be somewhat financially comfortable (god forbid you live on either coast, because even that might not work), and there's no such thing as the golden years of retirement anymore. These employers squeeze every drop out of you, and now we have at least two generations of kids institutionalized by schools, after school programs (if the parent's can afford it), video games, computers, and their own peers. But when something goes wrong, parents are to blame.
2-09-2009 @ 6:55PM
Scot said...I take it the post-writer has no children in school- let alone in Colorado? It makes total common sense for the parent to be able to take time off to attend to the childs educational events. A parent that is envolved with a child's education has a well developed child. I have been listening to some Pro athletes thanking their parents for being in the picture & pushing them to be a success. Now the child can support the parents. Sounds like a god idea to me. Scot
Reply
2-09-2009 @ 6:58PM
Brooke said...I am a white collar worker, and cannot get approved time off without several months notice. Additionally, if I take time off (such as sick days) or occurrences without notice for last minute conferences, etc., I get penalized, and it can lead to termination. I'm a single mother and cannot be without a job for obvious reasons.
I don't really have an opinion on this legislation yet, and I actually live in Colorado, but I think that your views of who deserves time off to deal with their children and school are very close minded, Amy. Not everyone has the flexibility to be involved in their kids' schools whenever they wish.
Reply
2-09-2009 @ 11:07PM
queenoqueens said...Yes, it's not just the migrant worker that has to beg, borrow and steal for time off to deal with children's issues. There are plenty of people employed by big corporations that are given grief when they take time off.
I know of someone who was fired from a call center for being 1 minute late into work.
Reply