Government is cracking down on delinquent parents with new school support rules that could see parents dragged into court if they do not pull their weight.

The legislation is not intended to create ?parental criminals?, Education Minister Terry Lister told members of the House of Assembly yesterday.

However, he added, the time had unfortunately come when more force had to be used in order to get a minority of parents to participate in their children?s lives.

Discussing the undeniable benefit of parental involvement in a child?s life, Opposition Education Minister Neville Darrell said the United Bermuda Party supported the bill, adding it comes from a ?genuine love and concern? for the Island?s youth.

The new rules will require parents to:

Attend at least one of the two scheduled parent-teacher conferences per year

Attend at least one of the usual ten Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings per year

Attend any other meetings which are pertaining to students

Spend at least one half-day in the classroom with their child during class-time

Supply the correct documentation when registering and enrolling their children in public school, especially regarding addresses and nationality

Ensure that their children receive all the correct immunisations necessary

Refrain from using profane language or making offensive gestures on school premises or while at school functions

Refrain from engaging in violent or threatening behaviour towards any school authority, person acting on behalf of a school authority, member of staff, students, or any persons on the premises for a school activity

The legislation will also:

Hold both parents and students accountable for any school property which is destroyed

Redefine the term ?parent? to include any guardian or person who has actual custody of the student

Hold such parents accountable to the rules from the moment their child is enrolled in the school until they leave that school

Mr. Lister said there are a number of paths that can be taken to enforce the legislation.

The very last resort, he said, could be dragging the parents into court. Parents who do not follow the new rules could face summary convictions with fines ranging from $50 to $200. The law will come into effect on September 1.