Britain: Parents Who Don’t Read to Their Kids Should Be Fined

Britain’s Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has
announced that he would like schools to be allowed to fine parents
who, among other academic crimes, don’t read to their
children. Parents who neglected their children’s homework
or school events should also be punished, he said.

As he
told the London Times: 

Parents should be fined if they miss parents’ evenings, fail to
read with their children or allow homework to go undone, the chief
inspector of schools said.

“Headteachers should have the power to fine them. It’s sending
the message that you are responsible for your children no matter
how poor you are.”

Actually it seems to
be sending the message that the state is responsible for the
children, and it’s responsible for the parents, and it’s
responsible for enforcing read alouds in their homes.

As a gal who somehow grew up literate despite a mom and dad who
loved to read, but not to me, I wonder if Sir Wilshaw would agree
to have me come in and decide how to
raise his children or grandkid so they could
grow up to be professional writers like me. Talk about bookish!

And if he doesn’t accept that, well, perhaps he should pay me a
small fine.