PHOTO: Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillipe Reunite
25 Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week
W. Virginia Bill Would Yank Your Driver's License if Your Kid Misses Too Much School
Filed under: In The News
Pull over, ma'am. No, you weren't driving too fast. Your kid is missing too much school. Credit: Getty
"Look at this note from school! Ten unexcused absences?! That tears it! Don't even think about going out with your friends this weekend. You just lost your driving privileges, Bucko!"
Sound familiar?
Actually, this is not the sound of you talking to your kids. It could be the sound of the state talking to you.
That is, if you happen to live in West Virginia.
The Parkersville News and Sentinel reports State Sen. Erik Wells has introduced a bill to yank your driver's license if your kid misses 10 or more days of school. You'd get a warning after the fifth unexcused absence.
The Democrat tells the News and Sentinel he knows this bill will go over about as well as Rush Limbaugh in a pole-vaulting contest. However, he wants to make a point.
"I think responsibility has to start somewhere, and it is the parents' responsibility as parents to put the welfare of their child first, and one of those aspects is to get the child to school," Wells tells the newspaper.
He adds perpetually absent kids should also lose their ability to participate in band, play sports or enjoy other extracurricular activities.
"There needs to be some consequences," Wells tells the News and Sentinel.
Yeah, maybe. But West Virginia's General Assembly has a lot of other issues nipping at its heels, the newspaper reports, including a bill adding five to 10 minutes to the school day. Lawmakers say this, too, will impress upon parents the importance of education.
All told, lawmakers have 2,000 bills staring at them this legislative session. Only 200, on average, become law. Wells tells the News and Sentinel he's not optimistic about his bill passing.
Nonetheless, he adds, he hopes his effort will spark discussion. It already has. The News and Sentinel reports West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee supports the bill.
"I think that one of the things a parent owes to a child that they bring into this world is to provide an environment to make sure they're in school," Wells tells the News and Sentinel. "I just have a hard time, as a parent, seeing how a parent would neglect their child, and I do think it's neglect ... You are hampering that child's ability to succeed in life by keeping them out of school and that's a disservice to that child."
Bills don't always have to be signed into law to be effective, Wells tells the News and Sentinel. Sometimes it's enough that legislation -- even futile legislation -- is introduced to let people know that lawmakers are doing something.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
- PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS AS TO THE ANSWER BY DEFENDANTS ______________________________. Plaintiff, ________________________ h...
- Using a foreign governement company to defend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA alot of .gov huh
- How many hickman towns,schools,and counties are in the united states
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Cool Looks For School Kids
Back to school season is here and Parents Magazine editor Taryn Mohrman and style expert Jene Luciani join us with the results of a Parents Magazine survey on what moms and their kids are looking for this season!
-
Parenting Advice on Motivating High School Kids
Non-profit executive Kyung Yoon contrasts her approach to what has become known as the Tiger Mom approach. With her two sons, Yoon makes it a point to embrace their individuality and tailor supportive parenting approaches to motivate each of the boys.
-
Should You Rely on Schools to Teach Kids about Money
Learn if you should rely on schools to teach kids about money in this video with Janet Bodnar.
-
Parents Outraged Over Ex-Adult Film Star Reads to Kids
Sasha Grey read to elementary school kids as a part of Read Across America, angering parents. Should they be upset about her past?
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 3 of 27)
1-11-2011 @ 6:44AM
Andrea said...While I normally fear government involvement in anything, this may be a great idea. I'm a teacher, and I can't tell you how many students miss school regularly. Parents think nothing of taking their kids out of school for a week's vacation, expecting make-up work that their kids rarely do anyway. Too many kids are out at least once or twice a week, ostensibly because of illness. Over the long term, absences do impact learning. Students miss out on the classroom experience when they expect "correspondence school." Perhaps threatening their drivers' licenses will make parents more accountable. Something's got to give.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:39AM
John Menuis said...I am glad someone with the obvious low IQ that you carry does not teach my children. If the child will not attend school then expell them but NEVER tie the parents ability to drive to this idiotic idea. By the way would this take the license from mommy, daddy or both so they could no longer drive to work and lose their homes and cars to repossesion?
1-11-2011 @ 8:10AM
Hello LaTonya said...Well with so many people not having insurance this is going to pose a serious problem. Because here you are only allowed 5 parent notes and if the absense is more than 2 days it must be a doctors note, Thank GOD I have insurance, my son who is currently out of school would have to miss 1 day a week to see the doctor for an illness he is being treated for.( We could have withdrawn him and had tutors in but it was his Senior year) he still always had a Dr. note and a letter from the Dr. on file at the school. I still ended up in truancy court 3 times all 3 times I took the same papers and info that I had given the school. Each time I was missing a day out of work sitting in a court room with 60 or so people 50 of whom didn't really care and 10 of us who just didn't belong there.
1-11-2011 @ 11:33AM
Janet Colosi said...It is not the place of a government, especially a state government to BLACKMAIL its populous into being forced to read and study information gathered and obtained for the sole purpose of brainwashing children.... The American school system is a joke. Its text books being so out of date and behind the rest of the world that it really doesn't matter if your kids go to school or not.. It is still teaching the same information it taught 30 -50 years ago, much of which is incorrect. The lack of new information is overwhelming... And this comes to pass because the school books being used were made/composed by simple minded Christians who think our earth is only 8,000 years old and refuse to allow true scientificly proven information to be taught. I do not believe that a government, that does not have the ability or desire to keep its workforce employed or protected, has the right to tell those same people what to do. It may have the power but it does not have the right..
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 6:52AM
brina8106 said...Ok so this law is completely ridiculous in my opinion. Today is my son's 7th day of missing this year because he is chronically ill. Out of the 7 absences he has 5 are doctor's excuses and two home notes. What is a parent suppose to do if they have a chronically ill child. My son has had all his vaccines and flu shots. He practices good hygiene so how is it my fault or his that he gets on a crowded bus or goes into school and some kid coughs or sneezes on him. If you send your child to school with a cold they call and want you to come get them but if you don't send them they threaten you with taking your license and even a visit from CPS. WTF!!!! A child getting sick has nothing to do with being a bad parent. If the state starts taking parent's license they are going to increase the amount of people on welfare and poverty. Parents will have no way to get to work, go grocery shopping, or even get their children to doctor appointments. Do these law makers not even stop to think of the consequences behind these laws? It is utterly ridiculous.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:04AM
LK said...Not WV goverments business if a child misses school. We something like that here in IL, if a shild misses more then 5 days there after they have to have a Dr's note, which is idiotic as a bad cold could keep them out for three to four. I ask the school board "So, I send the Dr bills to you correct?" Think abt it how often does your child feel bad and you know the Dr is going to go nothing but tell you to do the same thing you alreaday know?
Goverment is interfering a little too much.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 6:54AM
Beth said...Ok, I could understand this if the parents are enabling their children to miss that much school. But what about the parents that either put their kids on the bus, or drive them to school with the expectation that their child will go to class? Or, the parent that has a child that has a personal conflict with an administrator, who will provoke said child, just to have the privilege of suspending the child? Then NO, this isn't a good solution. It's going to cause parents to miss work, get fired, raise the unemployment, and cause families to be homeless in the bigger scheme of things. Should the children be held accountable? Heck yes!!! But let's figure out something else.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 10:34AM
dean5944 said...Right on BETH. Parents who don't have difficult kids have no idea what it's like to try to work with the "one size fits all" public schools. We went charter schools for our kids and everyone loves it. Different charter schools for each one, tailored to what they needed and no PC bull...
1-11-2011 @ 6:58AM
Sisa said...That is FASCISM at it's best!
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:05AM
LK said...I wanted to add, it is up to the schools to make the children want to be there. First get rid of tenure, second treat the children with respect instead of disdain, I know we have been in at least 5 different school districts and the one we are in now IL is the worst by far. Trachers have an "I don't care" "I am right you are wrong" attitude and the kids are treated as if they are all idiots, don't turn to principals or the school board for help they are even worse. They are also very clicky, they either like a studenbt or they don't and if they don't watch out.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:12AM
LISA said...bs! IT IS THE SCHOOLS JOB TO EDUCATE. IT IS NOT IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION TO MAKE IT FUN. THE PARENTS MUST INSTILL THE "WANT" TO BE THERE. MY KIDS ARE STRAIGHT "A" STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE, NOT BECAUSE IT IS FUN. EXPECT MORE FROM YOUR KIDS, DEMAND MORE FROM YOUR KIDS AND WATCH HOW FAR THEY CAN GO. STOP BEING SO EASY ON THEM. WE ARE 26TH IN EDUCATION IN THE WORLD!!!! THE WORLD!!!! THAT SUCKS. COME ON PEOPLE!!!! WAKE THE HELL UP!
1-11-2011 @ 11:41AM
Brett King said...WHY DO YOU THINK WE ARE 28th IN THE WORLD? Because some kids miss more than 10 days of school a year?
1-11-2011 @ 7:06AM
steve said...This is total BULL ....the government can't run it's own business now it wants to run our lives keep your noses in the capitol and figure out ways to save money and lower taxes....istead of costing people money - homes - & jobs. you need to work with these parents and their kids to find a solution , not create more problems
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 11:37PM
Sisa said...That is the most insane thing I have ever heard.... And people wonder why this country is going to the dogs. Let's see how many kids of license less parents get off to school...no ride! I personally hate my kids missing school... So send em in sick as dog.....spread the swine flu, chicken pox, pink eye, whooping cough, hoof and mouth, head lice. Or whatever it is they have got...because not everybody can afford to go to the doctor for every little illness...... Share the wealth. And if the school gets on your but about it tell them you thought they were fakin it to get out of taking a test or going at all. They probably are.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:12AM
mjmissie said...My childrens school has alot of the same rules, and I do not agree with any of it. At the school here in PA, excused or not, they are only allowed 10 days. Since when does the school get to have a say in weather or not my child is sick enough to stay home. I am their mother, and if I think they should stay home then I feel like the school should stay out of the running of my home. Parents have let to many people into their homes and gave over control of their kids without a second thought. A lot of parents have just got lazy and will let just anyone tell them how to raise their kids.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:17AM
dana said...If your child is that sick for more than 10 days a year than something is wrong. Do you want to know how many days my kids missed in the last 3 years......2! So if your kids miss more than 10 days of school find a specialist.
1-11-2011 @ 9:16AM
gena said...@Dana: It doesn't matter how many days your kids missed. Just because you're lucky enough that your children haven't been sick a great deal doesn't mean a child who misses ten days due to an illness needs to see a specialist. I'm a very involed parent that places a high value on education but sometimes your kids just get sick! Last year my son had H1N1- that's five days missed and before the year was out he missed another 3 with strep throat. Now, do you think I should have sent him to school with those illnesses so he could have perfect attendance? Of course not, but that doesn't mean he needs a specialist! Geez, use some common sense.
1-11-2011 @ 2:54PM
Jody said...@Dana...my kid got poison oak this year and missed 14 days of school because the school wouldn't let him attend until he was scabbed over and then had to wear clothes that covered the poison oak completely...it was late summer and over 100 degrees out! When it wasn't clearing up, I took him to the ER and the doctor said he could go to school as poison oak is not contagious as everyone thinks, but the school said no.. and so 10 of his 14 days were considered "unexcused" cause he didn't have a doctors note for them....that put him below his 92% expected attendance rate for the year and he is now under "contract" not to miss any more school or he goes before the school board...of course, the missed days the school does not get paid for his attendance, so it's really all about money, not education....and a parent can't always control a child's attendance...
1-11-2011 @ 7:21AM
Mike said...This is as stupid as it get's, especially when there are School Staff that encourages students that they can legally drop out, would faling teachers lose there license?
Illinois has a law just as stupid, fail to keep up on your child support - lose your license! Works really well when the person is homeless and unemployed and public transportation doesn't exist.
Reply
1-11-2011 @ 7:51AM
Jessica said...I am a teacher in another state and this is a large problem we also have. How am I expected to teach someone who is not in school. I understand staying home if you are ill, but there are a lot of parents who just allow their children to skip school because they don't want to argue with them about the issue (or they just don't care). I don't necessarily think the parent is the only one to blame, so there should be a consequence for the student as well. When I went to school we had Saturday morning detention where you had to go and clean up a roadside or school property, that kept people out of trouble because no one wanted to spend their weekend at school working. Also, if the parent drives their child to school instead of taking the bus, and their license is suspended how are they supposed to legally get their student to school. They could drive on a suspended license but what kind of example are they setting for their child. There needs to be consequences for both parents and the student to motivate both parties to make sure school is a first priority.
Reply