CHILDREN used to skip school to rebel against authority. It was their way of defying teachers and parents - but if they were found out they were in real trouble.

No more. Today a third of those York pupils caught out of school are with their mum or dad. In some cases, the parents have even telephoned the school to say their youngster was ill - and then taken them shopping.

This is almost beyond belief.

Perhaps the parents genuinely consider a "day off" to be a treat for their kids that cannot do them much harm.

If so, they should be made aware of the damage they are doing. It is bad enough that their children are missing classes and falling behind in their schoolwork, with all the long-term implications this has for their qualifications and career prospects.

But what are the parents teaching their children in lieu of the National Curriculum?

Lesson one: it is fine to tell lies. Lesson two: self-discipline is worthless - if you don't feel like working, don't bother.

Lesson three: the best thing in life is shopping.

It must make those council and police officers working so hard to combat truancy despair. There is only one answer: target mum or dad.

Parents can now be jailed for allowing their child to persistently miss school. This is a draconian last step - but the threat of it may teach these negligent grown-ups an overdue lesson.

Updated: 10:54 Friday, April 29, 2005