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I'm sure just about every single person if asked, could identify at least one or a couple of people they went to school with who were known bullies. These are the children who would bully either specific people or just target anyone in their way on a frequent basis, basically because they could with little to no repercussions and seemingly no intervention from their parents as the behaviors, even if reported to parents, continued day in and day out. These bullies typically lead teachers to have to take precious time out of their day to deal with these students and their behaviors to the point where it was or is almost part of their daily routine to have to discipline these children who bully.
In Shawano, Wisconsin, a recent ordinance passed that seeks to in effect, punish parents for their children's bullying behaviors. Typically with such known bullies, parents would be given 90 days after they’re informed by police of their child’s behavior to intervene, and put a stop to it. If the bullying continues, the ordinance calls for the parent(s) to be fined $366. If there is a second offense within one year, the parent(s) will be fined $681.
The district was sparked into action by the news that an 18 year old student, and known bully, opened fire on students at prom injuring two. The district felt that enough was enough and that parents, in charge of raising their children and the discipline of their children, should indeed be held accountable for their actions in the same way they would if their kid was caught vandalizing property and the parents had to pay for the damage. Many parents and teachers praised the new ordinance citing their own children's issues with other children or teachers having to deal with detrimental behavior to the learning environment, but other felt like the ordinance wouldn't do much.
I think there are three types of parents of these types of children. The first is the parent that thinks kids will be kids and they don't really bother teaching the kids right from wrong or try to punish them and so the children will keep on doing what they do, and if they see the fine as something the parents would rather pay than do anything about, then if the worst that's going to happen is a little over a grand in fees, they'll just pay it and the kid will go about doing what they do. The second parent is the one who may have tried their best to discipline their kids, but nothing they've tried works, so they may feel that they are being punished for no reason. That third parent is going to flip out and make SURE their kid, by any means necessary, doesn't do anything to incur that fine. They may actually be unaware of their children's in school behavior, or be aware of it, but finally have to really do something about it or suffer the financial repercussions of their child's actions.
Either way, I think something has to be done about it. I don't think it's unfair to tell a parent that if their child is a problem for others or disrupting other children's learning experiences on such a frequent basis, than they should at the very least have to do something to get their child's behavior in line. I don't think that's asking too much and since simply calling or informing a parent can and does fall on deaf ears a lot of the time, so how about a fine and a chat with the police to drive home the point? Kids are at school to learn, not to be beat up or shot at for just existing in the same time and space as another child. Maybe a fine will help encourage those parents to do something other than ignore the problem which then becomes a problem for everyone else.
What Girls & Guys Said
Opinion
2Opinion
YUP!
Buuuut - the fines should be in the thosands, not hundreds... Parents of idiots are, more often than not, idiots themselves. Why not punish them for being socially irresponsible.
P. S.
Idiots... please don't breed.
That's all idiots are doing. The smart people are waiting until they can both mentally and financially support a child, which is a bit later in life vs the people who don't wait or just want to fuck without thought. "Oops"
@Default_Hore Yup, pretty true, unfortunately.
It sounds like a typical money grab. If the district is having hard times with cash just start labeling activity bullying so you can get your funds... The idea sounds horrible. I think its fair to hold a parent accountable for damages such as hospital bills or property damage, but some blanket fine of you're kid is being a dick give me money sounds like crazy people talking. Yes, parents should teach their kids not to be assholes at school, no the government shouldn't be able to grab money anytime someone cries wolf...
but it's not any time, and any person, and it's not grabbing their money either. Ninety days is a pretty significant time for you to try and deal with your unruly child's behavior. We're not talking someone just one time teasing another child, we're talking about those kids who routinely do anything from beating up other kids, to harassment, to extortion, to disrupting class and on an on so frequently that it's clear no disciplinary action is being taken at home with teachers sending letters, asking for teacher conferences, warnings to the child, etc. I would think it would be unreasonable if they said, okay, first warning, here is a fine after one day. Yeah, that would be a money grab, but it's only when it comes to the second warning after a full 90 days that there is a fine.
While there are douche bags that will disrupt class regardless of the teacher, those students are generally sent to ISS and eventually to an alternative school if they can't straighten up. Most students will generally get their act together as far as behavior is concerned so long as the teacher isn't a pushover. Teacher conferences are generally due to performance issues, not discipline issues. You can't fine someone because their kid is a moron. While I strongly agree that parents should take a hell of a lot more responsibility for their kids performance and behavior, fines isn't going to fix the problem. What it will likely do is turn a bunch of poor people into criminals for having kids. Generally what you have with the kids with the worst behavior is problems at home. Are you really going to tax an 80 year old grandma living on social security that's taking care of two black boys because their mom is a crack head living on the streets and their dad is in jail?
Kids are just out of control. Parents appear to be doing nothing about anything.
So yeah, maybe we need to start trying things like this.
I fully agree with you.