INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY LINDEN
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Abdi Bey Washington, D.C. Absolutely not. In fact, parents should take their children out of public schools if the school system cannot keep them safe. I took my children out of elementary school and homeschooled them when they told me that kids in different grades [were sexually active] and selling drugs [on school premises]. I definitely don’t think that parents should be held criminally liable. The school system should for allowing these things to continue to happen.
PRESENTS
SHOULD PARENTS BE HELD CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL?
Mildred Stewart Hyattsville, Md. I don’t think they should be held criminally liable, but they should be held accountable. Until a child turns 18 years old, they are still under parental supervision and can’t make adult decisions. Parents should be held responsible in some sense to make sure that their child does attend school every day. [Parents] are also responsible for whatever disciplinary action needs to be enforced. It’s a sticky situation either way, but parents shouldn’t be held criminally liable.
Stanley Morris Washington, D.C. I think that parents should be held criminally liable. They’re allowing their child to miss out on receiving an education, which is highly important. By not making their child attend school, parents are setting a bad example as role models. A child’s education not only affects their future, but ours as a community as well. It’s extremely important that parents have their children in school at all times. If they’re not, then they’ll likely get involved in [trouble].
Niquelle Allen Washington, D.C. I don’t think parents should be held criminally liable. I think that there are other incentives to help parents make sure that their children attend school. It’s hard to be a parent these days with everything that’s going on. A lot of parents are working and have other obligations in their lives that keep them from being able to fully manage truancy. Holding parents criminally liable seems a bit too harsh. I think there are other ways that the government can encourage and assist parents in getting their children to school other than criminalizing truancy.
Photo of Adesola Osakalumi in FELA! by Sharen Bradford.
Adrienne Jackson Washington, D.C. Yes they should. When children miss school because their parents are irresponsible, they feel they’re able to do whatever it is they want because there is no supervision. And children will take advantage of that. When I was in school, we had truancy officers who would come to our houses to see if we skipped school. Parents today should definitely be held criminally liable if their child is not attending school.
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Jan. 31, 2013 - Feb. 6, 2013
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