OTL

Kym Worthy, Prosecutor for Wayne County, Michigan has come up with a new idea to force parents to attend parent teacher conferences: jail time. Ms. Worthy has pointed out that Detroit has had an increasing number of juvenile violent crimes and that truancy and drop out rates are at the highest level ever in the area. She attributes this to lack of parental involvement in the lives of their children.

Worthy cites a case where police arrived at the home of a juvenile that was just arrested for murdering someone. When the police knocked at the door, the parents had to admit that they did not know the whereabouts of their son at that time. It was 2am. Worthy believes that if the parents were more intoned with their children and their schooling events like this could be avoided.

Worthy has suggested that all Wayne County parents be required to attend one school meeting a year. If the parent(s) fail to attend this scheduled meeting they will be issued another appointment within two weeks. If, at that time they do not attend, a letter of warning is sent with a final appointment time. This letter will include the penalties for failing to appear, including a possible 3 days in jail.

Of course, there are questions about civil liberties and governmental intrusion being thrown at this proposal. Worthy is ready to fight. She believes someone must fight for the integrity of Detroit’s youth.