March 04, 2009

Let's pay them to drop out

If you talk to be people that have never been to Kentucky, or are visiting for the first time, you will often find they are surprised by our culture, education and our...teeth. No joke. Many have the impression that we are barefoot backwoods, toothless, hillbillies living in shacks with dirt floors. Where would they get such an idea? Movies? TV? Today's Courier Journal?

"A bill that would raise the high school dropout age from 16 to 18 by 2011 cleared a House committee yesterday, but Gov. Steve Beshear said the state can't afford to educate the students who would be forced to stay in school."

What?

So it's more expensive to educate a child for two years than...
a) support them on welfare.
b) house them in prison.
c) all of the above.

I'm sorry, I really shouldn't be so negative.

There are bonuses to all those 16 year old dropouts...
a) no strain on the college system.
b) somebody needs to do the minimum wage work.
c) increasing state population.

I am embarrassed that our governor would put a price on a child's education. Maybe he could offer a financial incentive to encourage 16 year old teens to drop out. We should all be so proud.

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