Parents could soon face fines of up to £100 if their children misbehave in class or miss school during term time.
Southend Borough Council will meet next week to discuss new powers for headteachers to deal with anti-social behaviour, which are due to come into force from September.
It will be up to headteachers to decide which students require "parenting contracts".
Heads have cautiously welcomed the initiative but do not want to be the ones chasing up fines, fearing it could swamp them in paperwork and jeopardise their sometimes fragile relationships with parents.
Parents who do not pay their fines may be taken to court and even to prison.
Chris Martin, headteacher at Shoeburyness High School, said: "This will be an important weapon in society's armour against anti-social behaviour."
Published Friday June 18, 2004
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