Ermm parent teacher conference FINE?

The fine of $500 seems a little steep.

I'm not a parent, but I know that if I knew I were unable to show up for one of these meetings, it would be immediately re-schduled for the soonest date possible.
There's a certain responsibility as parents to be involved in your child's education, and I think parent/teacher meetings are important, because children aren't always honest, and teachers tend to notice things that parents dont, because of the environment change.

I definiately think there should be a penalty on the parent, but a fine that high...these people have children, some are struggling as single parents, or even married, to keep up with bills. I can understand forgetting to go to a meeting as a genuine accident, but would not understand having to pay so much for it when it can easily be schduled for another time.

my mom was barely ever able to make it to ptc's because she worked nights, usually a relative would go to it, but the teacher would send a note to my mom just so she knew she was fully informed. i don't think imposing a fine is necessary.

I think that is WRONG!  I understand the need for parents to get more active in their education, but I don't think fining them is going to help. 
 
 I know when I was in school they took a couple days out of school for PTC.  My mom only made a few because she and Dad were working.  For me there was never a need to go (I was a good girl []).  My brother was a bit more of a trouble maker, but they were active in actually talking to to the teachers on a regular basis and not just during a PTC.

I doubt it would help and it's probably not legal anyway, but I understand the frustration that it's coming from. There are many kids that it is simply not possible to help unless you get the parents on board and if they won't, yet you're still responsible for the child's school performance as their teacher, it is incredibly frustrating.

I think the idea of the fine is crazy but look at that pic...the students in there have their own laptops!  Wow, if I had my own laptop back in elementary school then I'm sure my parents could afford the fine as well.  Perhaps for that community, things are a little pricy so the fine is adjusted accordingly?

What is really sad it that this is that so many parents have to be forced to go to a conference.  The more I read stories like this the more I appreciate my mom, who was very involved in my education and actually cared how I did. 

I didn't have that problem with my parents, my mom was the school librarian so she talked with my teachers on a dally basis.  Yep, I could not do anything without my mom knowing.  She even knew all my friends and what they were up to.  She tried several times to pick and choose my friends for me but that never worked.

Yup I'm all for it.  With a few stipulations.  First off, I think the interviews should be either marked mandatory for problem students, or those having problems, or marked optional for students that don't have any issues but who's parents may like to come in anyway.  When the appointment is scheduled, should be a convinient time for the parent and scheduled at least a week in advance if not two.  That would give a parent enough time to make arrangements for a shift swap or childcare or whatever.  I realize that teachers put in a ton of time at the school, but I don't think a week of random appointments after school and maybe a Saturday, 4 times a year would be too much to ask for parents that are genuinly concerned for thier kids acedemic and social well being.  I wish someone had forced my parents to attend them.  I'm sure my teachers would have had a lot to say to them.  Unfortunately since I was 10 years behind my sister, my parents got kind of bored of being parents soon after I started school.

I don't know about you , but if I had a $500 fine hanging over my head, I wouldn't be accidently forgetting anything...

i remember loads of time where I *ahem* forgot to tell my mum about these meetings.
 
That fine is ridiculous.

ORIGINAL: k.m.a

i remember loads of time where I *ahem* forgot to tell my mum about these meetings.

I don't depend on Kale to tell me when these meetings take place.  It is my responsibility to make it to these meetings, not his.  Kale is one of the kids the rarely needs the interviews, but I go anyway.  In my experience its the parents that don't bother with it, who's kids need them the most.  Obviously there are exceptions to every rule.

When my boys were in school (and DGS also) the teachers made it as easy as they possibly could for parents to get to the meetings. School let out at noon on ptc days and the teachers scheduled meetings from then until about 6:00 p.m. to accomodate working parents.  On at least one of those days, there was no school and meetings were scheduled all day. They always sent a note home giving you a selection of 3 times/days - you could pretty much pick your own. It was just a matter of confirming and sending the note back signed.
 
Joyce

Ya its pretty flexible here too.  I've never had a problem making arrangements to get to one at any of the schools that Kale has attended.  And he's been to 3 because of all the moving we've done.

I do think their should be some kind of penalty if a parent misses a "scheduled" meeting. Why should they waste a teachers time. $500. seems excessive though.
The schools around here send you an e-mail when parent teacher conferences are. I can also go on-line and view my kids grades at any time and also check to make sure they are in school that day, if they had that when I was in high school, maybe I would have been a better student.