The Concept of "Parent Duty" was conceived because Public Schools in Washington, DC are not "Parent" Based and therefore are suffering from poor performance despite high per capita spending per student. My thesis is that it is not one variable but multiple issues that must be addressed.
However, all school issues can be controlled at a public school administrative level except for one big piece: The Parents. I therefore raise the controversial issue of passing a law that would require "Parent Duty".
What is "Parent Duty"? Similar to "Jury Duty" it is a recognition that just as our Obligation to the Court and Criminal Justice System requires each Citizen to serve on "Jury Duty", we should prioritize our greater obligations to each other in our community by establishing court enforceable "Parent Duty" for all Parents or Legal Guardians of Public School attendees.
One of the great predictors of poverty and subsequent criminal histories are the lack of education and high school dropout rates. By requiring Parent(s) to attend the "Summons" or Mandatory Attendance at Parent/Teacher Conferences, we can help to reduce the need for suspensions and shift that burden of accountability back to where it should fall: The Parents.
How does it work? Similar to "Jury Duty", school officials would have court-backed authority to "Summon" a Parent at least once a semester to sit down with the student and teachers. Just as skipping "Jury Duty" is an illegal act, Parents or Legal Guardians could be issued Warrants for Arrest or Fines for failure to appear to answer questions about their child.
Further, just as Employers are Required by Law to give Leave of Absence for employees serving on "Jury Duty", the "Parent Duty" laws would make it illegal for employers to discriminate against parents who must appear at "Parent Duty".
Please join me in asking your elected and school officials to endorse local and national "Parent Duty" laws across America.