Lazy parents could face fines of $200 if they fail to take an interest in their children's schooling and try to get them to obey the rules.

Principals in the Island's public schools will have powers to order parents who fail to adhere to a new code of conduct to attend parenting classes or counselling.

And if they refuse to do so, the principal can recommend they be prosecuted in Magistrates' courts and face fines of $200.

Education Minister Paula Cox said the new laws were aimed at dealing forcefully with the increasing problem of parents who were dodging their responsibilities towards their children's education.

The new Education Amendment Act, passed by MPs in House of Assembly last night, backs up a code of conduct for parents introduced earlier this year.

Under the code of conduct, among other things, parents have to ensure their children obey school rules, realise education is their responsibility as well as the schools', ensure their child attends daily and is punctual, and report to the school when requested to examine to attendance, behaviour and progress of the student.

Parents who repeatedly breach the code will be called in to meet the principal, who can order them to take parenting classes.

Parents failing to take the courses without reasonable excuse can also be recommended by the principals for conviction in the courts.

Ms Cox said yesterday: “This legislation does not seek to catch parents out. There are thousands of parents in this country who are doing what is considered to be ‘the right thing'.

“They attend school conferences, they come out to parent teacher meetings, they volunteer their time at school, they check homework regularly, and they provide other resources for the school.

“The legislation is designed to alert those parents who feel that they are not important to the school or, more importantly, those who fail to do what is required of them, to the fact that there are consequences for their inaction.

“Thus, parents who do not live up to their obligations should expect to be taken to court and that a fine not exceeding $200 be imposed.

“This has not been attempted before, but schools have made it clear to the Ministry that they need to have parental involvement at all levels in order to promote student progress.

“No apology should be made for having this provision in the legislation. Schools have regularly lamented the fact that there are some parents who do not do what is expected of them.

“We have now given the principal, who is the front-line authority with regard to interacting with parents, legal and meaningful authority which is not just talk - it is action.

“This may no doubt raise the concern and perhaps even the ire of some in the community.

“However, we must remember that parents are responsible for their children, and that as a country, we are collectively appalled each time there is a transgression committed by a student, often wondering aloud ‘where are the child's parents'.

“Parenting is not a choice. It is an obligation. Part of the obligation is to step to the wicket and be an active and positive force in the life of the child.

“Although it is incomprehensible that someone in the role of a parent might refuse to attend a prescribed class, it just may happen.

“We are prepared to enforce this law so that the seriousness of the parenting commitment is recognised.”

Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell said the UBP supported the bill, but said there was no consensus about the causes of delinquency or even if parenting affecting hooliganism.

Bermuda was being caught up in a storm of “finger pointing at parents” in Europe and North America, which some researchers said showed a “coursening and hardening of community life”.

Some US legislators believed disruptive behaviour was likely to persist and the trend towards punishing parents would increase.

The $200 fines might be too much for some families - particularly single parents - but others might think them too low and pay them to allow them to duck their responsibility,” said Mr. Darrell.

Many families needed extra support to come to the wicket and participate, he argued, and there needed to be progressive domestic abuse legislation and better co-ordination between agencies dealing with families.

There were no simple solutions, but some parents should be given behaviour changing courses and they should be forced to take part in treatment to improve the behaviour of their youngsters.

Shadow Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess said good parenting did not guarantee children would behave well.

He lamented the strap being taken out of the classroom and said some parents believed they had been “robbed” of the right to bring up their children they way they wanted in case their children were taken into care by social workers.

Parents should be forced to attend Parent Teachers Association meetings if they wanted their children in public schools.

Parents who are under stress and can't always be involved in educational activities with their children aren't always bad parents.

Agreeing with Mr. Burgess, Shadow Housing Minister Wayne Furbert said: “When you spare the rod you spoil the child.”

He quoted the Bible and added that making certain legislation was taking out the natural process of parenting that is inherent in everyone and is spoken in the Bible.

Because parents who were deemed to not take sufficient part in their children's education, Mr. Furbert wondered how a social worker, who might also have problems with their children, would properly deal with the situation.

But Health Minister Patrice Minors said parents needed to have partnership with their children's schools and their teachers and the Government encouraged these partnerships for better involvement.

And Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield added that the bill would not convict parents but recommend parents to a Government established counselling meeting.

“This bill gives power to make rules for school support to the parents. Some parents just don't come out to see how their child is doing. Many times a lot of parents can't be found,” she said.

She recognised parents have a lot of pressure but she said she believed most parents would look forward to provided counselling.

Shadow Minister of Women's Issues Suzann Holshouser recommended educating children about being a parent and put “the horse before the cart”

By working with the roots of the problem, Shadow Minister of the Environment Cole Simons said a publicity campaign on the Code of Conduct would also be step in the right direction. With all parents understanding the Code of Conduct in public schools he said: “It (Code of Conduct) should ensure that all parents and adults in contact with our school children have clearly defined roles which they have to commit to when it comes to educating our students.”

He said the Code of Contact should be a “benchmark for a safe and productive learning environment”.

Parents must also regularly communicate with their children's teachers but first must know what is expected of them and their children at public schools.

Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler said parents sometimes have to be forced to get the help they need to being a successful parent. He said despite certain circumstances the parents who accept that they are a single parent have been most successful raising their children. He added that most parents in Bermuda have a vested interest in making sure their children are enrolled in school and look presentable.

Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley called for the Education Minister to be more proactive at school by teaching students the responsibility of parenthood.

He said: “This could be one of the most positive things we could do for our children, how to be a proper parent.”