Republicans vow to protect high school dropouts from Barack Obama.

[FarLeftFist]

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republicans-vow-protect-high-school-dropouts-barack-obama-184402291.html

WASHINGTON -- High school dropouts, do not fear. The Republican Party will protect you from Barack Obama's efforts to keep you at your desk.

At his third State of the Union Address Tuesday night, the president challenged all states to ban children from dropping out of high school before they turn 18. "Tonight," Obama bellowed, "I am proposing that every state--every state--requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18."

Obama wasn't proposing a new federal program, but his use of the bully pulpit to tell local jurisdictions how to run their school districts was enough to make some Republicans, already sensitive to the increasing role of the federal government in education over the past few years, bristle.

"That's none of his business!" said Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee while speaking to reporters after the speech. "He's not a principal! He's not a public school teacher! He's not a governor, he's not a mayor. These are matters for state and local government."

[happpychemtrails2U]

1. I did a silent, still facepalm when the POTUS said that.

First of all, there are no longer any truant officers. I know--I have family members whose parents were not concerned enough to make damn sure they went to school every day. Yeah, they have robocalls or maybe even a live voice trying to speak to a parent but never did they come out and find out why my half-brother didn't show for weeks on end!

The other factor in this is the disruptiveness. Most of these kids are probably very lost academically, which is why they drop out in the first place. They will not take too kindly to being forced to sit in a building all day, feeling dumb and incompetent.

[Son of Gob]

7. We hardly knew ye.

[demtenjeep]

9. um yes there are truant officers

and they are busy

[abelenkpe]

2. Cause state and local governments have been doing such a great job?

Republicans are fools....

[nanabugg]

3. It's looking out for the national welfare. It's call "incentivizing" We do it for corporations

why not HS students. I am sure there would exceptions for hardship cases but the overall idea sounds good to me.

[bigwillq]

4. I kind of agree with Lee

Obama has always said that gay marriage is a state issue, but now he wants to tell state's how to handle high school dropouts?

[Greg K]

5. But it's ok for Newt to tell schools who to hire as Janitors? nt

[KT2000]

6. I really support Obama on this

There is nothing sadder than a kid who has dropped out of high school who then finds out he/she cannot get a job or join the military.
If they do get a job, the promotions go to the ones who have education.
That is the reality.

[mike_c]

11. I dropped out of high school-- twice....

Never did get a diploma, although I did take the GED exams while in my early twenties, and passed. Today I have a doctorate-- an earned one, I might add-- and a solid professional academic science job, with tenure, retirement, etc. I don't encourage kids to quit school, but I was perfectly fine when my daughter did (like me, she has no high school diploma but now she does have undergrad and advanced degrees). It's not a terrible fate at all. I will certainly admit that the path was a little rockier without that sheepskin, but really, lack of a high school diploma is one of life's more easily overcome problems, once you grow up enough to realize you want more out of life.

[KT2000]

12. OK - but

you did have to go for more education because you realized you were not going to get very far without it. This is what everyone who drops out discovers and those who can manage it - do go on to get their GED's and more. There are some who never do gret over that obstacle though. Maybe a greater effort to keep kids in school could be made.

I believe it is usually the social aspect that causes kids to drop out. Maybe more effort could be applied to remedy those problems - alternative high schools have been good for some.

[demtenjeep]

8. he's only the PRESIDENT

ya dumbass

was Mike Lee a teacher or principal?

[mike_c]

10. "These are matters for state and local government."

I presume that's why he "challenged all STATES to ban children from dropping out of high school before they turn 18." (emphasis added)