In response to the letter Parents should be responsible (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 25), the policy of the school in question is outdated and inappropriate: Locking students out of school because they were late is a worthless exercise and should be stopped. There are other, more positive methods that could be used to "encourage" students to arrive on time.

The method is a negative, top-down approach that only teaches students to fear authority and to focus on the ends, rather than the means.

Is speeding or dangerous driving preferred so they arrive on time? Is attending school without first eating breakfast is preferred? I also wonder if the policy applies to the principal as well.

A student can be delayed for a variety of reasons, many of which are beyond their control. A flooded street may cause a detour. So why punish the student?

Meanwhile, Quan's assertion that parents are responsible and should always know what their children are doing is not realistic. In 10 years of teaching, students have frequently confided in me on matters they wouldn't dare tell their parents. I have also given advice on very serious issues because the student was afraid to talk to their parents.

Children keep secrets for various reasons. Blaming a parent for the decision of a child is unfair. In my experience, only naive parents believe they know everything about their children. It is possible that Quan has a rare relationship with her child. That would be great if it is true. Most parents are not so lucky, although many falsely believe they are.

Rather than blame the parents -- which would be easy -- it would be better to focus on the responsibility of schools. Schools and teachers are charged with acting as surrogate parents, or in loco parentis, and thus have a duty to provide care for a child. This is not upheld by denying a child entry to the school.

Schools should act responsibly towards the child, the parents and the community.

GENE NETTO Jakarta