Community Corner

Should Disinterested Parents Be Punished?

A Cobb School Board member has suggested taking away privileges like graduation tickets from parents who do not take an active role in their child's education.

A member of the Cobb Board of Education has suggested a controversial method to help encourage parents to become more active in their child's education.

David Morgan, who represents South Cobb, said during a Wednesday work session that parents who do not involve themselves fully in their student's academic career should lose privileges like extra graduation tickets.

Morgan said that too many parents in his part of the county were too selective in the school-related events they invest time in, frequenting weekend events like football games and largely ignoring parent-teacher conferences. 

According to the Marietta Daily Journal, the suggestion concerned and alarmed other school board members, who felt it was not the School District's place to force parents to get more involved in their child's education. Board Chairwoman Kathleen Angelucci suggested that instead of using the stick, parents could be encouraged to become more active by enticing them with the carrot.

Morgan defended his position by saying that demographics in South Cobb schools necessitated tough penalties on lackadaisical parents. He added that what might work in South Cobb wouldn't necessarily produce results in the rest of the county.

Do you support David Morgan's proposal to compel parents to become more active in their child's education? Tell us in the comments!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here