Should parents be punished for their child playing truant?
Charlotte, James, Liam and Emma are sitting in their Maths
class discussing everything, but Maths, especially when Liam
shares some local gossip.
Charlotte: Aww…I hate maths. I wish we didn’t have to go to school!
James: Yeah! School sucks! I don’t see the point in it anyway, and to be honest I
am not sure that Mr Price would notice if we weren’t here anyway!
Liam: But did you hear what happened to Billy’s mum? She were sent to prison
because of him skipping school.
Charlotte: Yeah right! Who told you that?
Emma: Well, Liam and I were walking past the staff room when we heard the
teachers gossiping!
Liam: Yeah, it turns out she is in there for a good two months. That’s why Billy
has been so moody, he is having to stay with his gran.
James: That’s not right! It was Billy who was the one who skipped school so it’s he
who should be punished.
Emma: But it was his Mum who was supposed to take care of him. Technically, he
wasn’t in school – as far as the law goes our parents are responsible for us so I
suppose it follows that they get punished.
Charlotte: But he is old enough to make his own decisions about going to school.
His mum wouldn’t be strong enough to drag him to school, you can’t blame her
when he messes up.
James: I suppose there must be help for parents if they can’t get their kids into
school? She should have asked for help.
Liam: School should have done something – how did it get that far?
Charlotte: I think school did try to help, I am sure I saw him and his mum in
school a while back.
Emma: I can agree that there needs to be consequences, but two months in jail –
that is harsh.
Liam: Seems crazy that the police get involved and your parents become criminals
if you skive school - I couldn’t do that to my mum.
Charlotte: My parents would never forgive me for embarrassing them by skipping
classes – maybe Mr Price’s lessons aren’t so bad.