[moog]

The one person I talked with was pretty agravated, partly because they were told they had to take the course, partly because of the expense, and partly because the one "teaching" parenting had never been married and had no children.

The last part would make me aggravated. On the other hand, if I would have ever skipped, my hide would have been tanned red and my mom and dad would have marched me right back to school. There wouldn't have to be any "parenting classes" for them.

[Smokin' Joe]

The only time I got in trouble for skipping school, (when I actually hadn't) was in the sixth grade. I was a frequent, if not quite daily 'visitor' to the principal's office, and had decided to clean up my act.

After a week of not getting into any trouble, the principal assumed I had been absent, called my folks (Mom) on Friday afternoon and told them he hoped I was feeling better.

I spent the whole weekend in trouble (seriously grounded) until the whole mess could be sorted out on Monday...After that, I resolved to maintain a higher profile...and returned to my miscreant ways.

[ArmyTeach]

Yep. But today's parents have all the responsibility and have been stripped by law of all their authority.