Aug 09 2007
A silver lining in paying high school students to attend class?
A link at the Drudge Report led me to this story from KVOA, “It pays exactly $25 for Tuscon kids to stay in school.”
“Local high school students will soon be cashing in for hitting the books. A new pilot program promises to pay them to stay in school. More than 20,000
Arizona teens dropped out of the class of 2006.
To fight the problem, 75 students from low income families at Amphi High and 100 from Rincon high were picked for the new program. The students will get $25 a week as an incentive to stay in school. A local nonprofit will pay for the project.”
I find it disturbing that this group thinks it is a good idea to pay these students. The message received will most likely be: if you aren’t getting paid, it ain’t worth showing up! It is unfortunate that the parents of these children haven’t done their jobs. I can reasonably say that, because if they had, their high school aged children would be attending class without bribes.
The point I want to make here is a positive one. The fact that this pilot program is being paid for by a nonprofit organization should tell us something. It is not being paid for by the taxpayers! Liberals everywhere would do well to take notice of the fact that people are generous and caring. Charity will happen without government mandate!
Even if the object of the charity is misguided, as long as taxpayers aren’t footing the bill, it can be viewed in a somewhat positive light. All charity should be given by private citizens and organizations. I hope at least a few big government liberals will look at the funding for this program and decide:
- I was wrong, people (except duly elected liberal politicians) are not mean and selfish. They will give to causes in which they see need.
And hopefully they will not decide:
- I can’t wait until we can turn this pilot program into a well funded government program.
