Jail for Missing Parent-Teacher Conferences: Kym Worthy Defends Her Plan

Truancy is high and even when students do make it to school, many are dropping out before they graduate.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has a plan to reverse the trend by demanding parental involvement. She's proposing a new law that would put parents in jail if they repeatedly missed parent-teacher conferences.

Worthy presented the plan to the Detroit City Council on Tuesday. She also hopes to make it a state law.

Some of the biggest reactions we've been receiving have been from parents. One woman told us, "Obviously, they shouldn't be jailed, but it does say something about their parenting for not being there.  It's very important to be there for your children and support them."

Another said, "The first time you should give them a warning and after that then they should be penalized."  He also told us that he felt a fine would be more appropriate than jail time.

Worthy spoke with FOX 2's Huel Perkins about her proposed plan. Some of the questions he posed to the prosecutor included:

• How would this new law work?
   
• How would you enforce it?
   
• What about parents who are sick or work?
   
• Would this apply to good students or only to those students who are failing?

Would it apply equally to both public, private and charter schools?

Click on the video player to watch the interview.  We also want to know what you think about this issue. Post your comments in the section below.