Parents will have to follow a new set of rules put forward by Government in the House of Assembly yesterday, proposing to stamp out profanity and bad behaviour in the Island's public school system.

Under the rules, parents will have to attend at least one parent teacher conference each academic year, attend any meeting pertaining to students, and attend at least one half-day per academic year in the classroom in which the student is taught.

The take note motion was debated by MPs, throughout the afternoon session of the House, stipulating that parents attend the PTA or participate in a school support programme determined by the principal.

Last year, parents of students at CedarBridge Academy were sent a stern message to follow the school's hard-line on discipline and uniform or take their children elsewhere.

The school's Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) said a zero tolerance policy was in operation at the school to ensure students and parents behaved properly.

Under the Education School Support Rules 2004, a parent is defined as any guardian or person who has actual custody of the student. A parent is subject to the rules from the time a student is enrolled in school to the time the student completes the school system.

The take note motion, which comes on the heels of recent amendments to the Education Act, is stipulates that parents must not use profane language on school premises or while at a school function, make offensive gestures, or engage in violent or threatening behaviour towards any school authority, a person who is acting on behalf of a school authority, a student, a member of staff, or any person on the premises for a school activity.

Parents must also provide accurate documentation and evidence that their child is eligible for enrolment and has received all required immunisations prior to being enrolled at school.

If a student destroys or damages any property belonging to the school, the student and parent are liable for the value of that property. The Principal of the school may request the student or the parents refund the value of the property destroyed to the owner of the property or request the student to do community service, or even both. The motion also includes a list of guidelines informing parents that if they damage any property belonging to the school, they are responsible for refunding the property.

MPs talked at length about the use of profanity in the Island's schools and in all aspects of the community in general.

Introducing his take note motion on the Education School Support Rules, ruling party backbencher Dean Foggo stressed that parents play a significant role in the education of their students.

He noted that the rules stressed parental responsibility in providing information about their children to their schools and that they were stakeholders in the students' success.

Mr. Foggo said he noted that there was considerably less resistance among parents to the rules.

He cited research which showed that student achievement increased with greater parental involvement and that family involvement, not income or social status, was the most accurate predictor of student success.

Student achievement also increased with the level of parental expectations and, he said, parents had four key roles in the life of their children ? teacher, advocate, supporter and decision maker.

The former CedarBridge Academy teacher recalled the early days of the senior secondary school when, he said, "it seemed like we had all the elements against us."

Mr. Foggo said public criticism of the school spilled over into anxiety in the school which was manifested in emotional and physical damage of the institution. But the school managed to pull together under the leadership of principal Kalmar Richards, he said.

"Bermuda's future was at stake and we had to ask ourselves what can we do," Mr. Foggo continued.

A three year plan to develop "school spirit", and get the community to feel good about the school, was hatched.

"We achieved a large amount of success," Mr. Foggo said, citing success of the school's quiz and debate teams.

"Much success was achieved because parents came on board."

He added that the school was also able to recruit companies such as The Royal Gazette and Conyers, Dill and Pearman into the effort.

"Teachers offered free tutorials, support staff came on board, students came on board to ensure the success of our young people. So Mr. Speaker we are all in this together."

He continued : "Parental support can lift schools. Parents are the key to education no matter what happens in the classroom. The rules show that Government is committed to improving our students' chances for success and also in meeting our mission statement to being first choice in education."

?The conclusion of this debate, and other debates from last night's House of Assembly session, will appear in Monday's Royal Gazette