What’s 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there over the course of several months? What’s the big deal?
Well, it’s apparently a big deal for two Loudoun families after being brought before a judge because of their children’s excessive tardiness problems.
It’s likely an entertaining event for those put off by a modern world where nothing seems to start on time and those who silently fume about their wasted time waiting on friends, family and coworkers. Is it that hard to be on time? We’d all be amused by the idea of a punctuality police, fining and imprisoning the people in our lives who run about 20 minutes behind.
But the idea loses its charm when someone is actually forced to pay a bond to be released from jail simply because their children were late. We start to wonder what the next step is.
Should parents who don’t study with their kids receive a fine? If a mother or father doesn’t send the child off with a hot breakfast, how many years of probation should they receive?
It seems like a silly idea, but after these recent arrests they suddenly seem more realistic.
It brings out the Libertarian streak in us all, making us question the actions of a government we pay for with our taxes. The underlying message here is that if you’re late, then you’re not a good parent – and the schools have no place in making this determination. It’s overreaching.
The entire debate smacks of a particularly officious school or court employee. That there are only two recent published instances of this occurring and both happened in western Loudoun County gives one pause. So no one in eastern Loudoun was late this many times? In itself, this would appear to be an uneven application of existing school policy.
But remember, the schools are often prohibited from sharing information regarding student discipline and the relationship between parents and the schools because of privacy concerns. And while the known details appear out-of-sync with good sense, there’s always a possibility that more information is coming in the future.
However, it does seem the statutory authority allowing for the arrests of adults for a child’s late arrival at school is extremely vague. While some may encourage legal intervention to ensure fairness to other students, this type of action creates a dangerous precedent and one we don’t believe the public at large has signed up for.
The real solution is much simpler. Every instance of being tardy counts as a third of an absence from school. Should a child be absent too many times, he then receives a suspension and eventually becomes ineligible to pass that grade level.
The legal intervention initiated by the schools and court system seems out of joint because they are saying the children are at risk, when apparently it’s the parents who are the only ones feeling the consequences. Most adults can return this sort of pressure with righteous indignation, but they’ll likely draw the line when their actions have a more obvious consequence on their kids.
The loon in Waterford needs to own up to the fact that he and his wife have made mistakes. But no, the father goes on the local news and tries to wax wise on teaching children to learn personal responsibility. All he succeeded in doing was to make himself look like an idiot. Even if he doesn’t lose his license to practice law, he won’t be getting any business from my camp! Further, if I see him on the news again, I will do my best to see that he never works in this town again!
The real problem is who to handle the problem if there is a problem. I wouldn’t trust trust Hatrick and mabye half his principles to handle much of any thing. The Commonwealth Attorney’s office is too political and the court system should never have anything to do with our children.
Disagree with the editorial…..you really think the school district didn’t try to work with these two families? Let’s see the Waterford family admits they IGNORED the warning letters and failed to meet with anyone to discuss their issue. So why is it the school district’s fault? Are they supposed to be mind-readers? Do you seriously think these are the only two families just because you haven’t heard about any others? Gosh, I’m thinking other parents in this situation were smart enough NOT to involve the press to plead their case but in actuality make the entire family look like a joke. Let’s just throw out rules because no one likes to enforce them——come on—-grow up. They choose to be late, because they do not feel it a priority to be on time. Their kids understand that completely and feel free to do whatever they want in the morning at whatever speed they choose. The parents need to fix their morning routine because it doesn’t get any easier as the kids get older. But in a few years we’ll all be expected to feel sorry for them again….boo hoo…NOT!
*oh and I find it funny that to post this remark I had to complete the “actions speak louder than words” phrase….time for you as a paper to take some action and acknowledge that accountability has it’s place in this situation and casting blame on the school district is not the right action.
Not important to be on time? I want that lawyer dad to be late to court 80+ times and see what a judge says.
I agree with the editor. Yes, it is a dicipline problem. No, it is not criminal. There are better ways to handle these issues.
Aww…let it slide. Anyone can slip up…85 times.
Let the kids drift into school whenever they or their parents get around to it.
Just make sure that they all pass. All our kids are above average. Just like soccer - everyone gets a trophy.
After college & borrowing $50,000 thay can join the “occupy wherever” protest to complain about not being handed a job with a big salary.
I agree- why is punctuality so important. I mean, if the police show up 5 to 10 minutes late every time, who should care? Or if the ambulance is a little slow, I mean, that’s normal, right? And fireman - always having to be to the fire on time. For that matter, why should teachers have to be there before the students, or for that matter, anyone who has a job?
I mean, its not like being a parent is a job that has anything important either!
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Okay, sarcasm mode off. In all seriousness, being a parent is a vitally important job. Part of that job is ensuring that school can start on time. Punctuality is an overlooked virtue nowadays, and frankly it is rude to have to wait on a tardy kid 85 times this year so far alone.
Nobody is suggesting that a parent should be thrown in jail for a first offense. But 85 times? These parents are not doing their job. I have kids of my own - I understand - but part of their job is getting their kids to school on time.
If we applied the same ethic of “It doesn’t matter” to everyone in government or industry, there would be chaos.
The school waited a long time to do this. They bent over backwards to avoid this. But if someone won’t do their job, sometimes there has to be a consequence.
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