Why do liberals make things so difficult when such easy solutions are staring them right in the face?
For instance, the problem related to school truancy has been markedly on the rise over the last decade.
So Newsday writes an editorial about measures we can take to deter student absenteeism.
Their solutions include more record-keeping as an incentive to have the kids show up. Then they throw in the need to spend more money on better bus transportation and better food in schools. Then they supported three bills in the state legislature.
Three bills in Albany could help schools improve attendance. The bills — sponsored by upstate Sens. Patricia Fahy (D,WF-Amsterdam) and James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) — target the growing problem. They demand serious consideration by Albany lawmakers.
One bill would create a statewide attendance dashboard, while another bill would create a coordinated state response and early warning system at the local level. The third bill would create a pilot engagement and attendance program in targeted schools.
But they overlooked the one simple solution that most people with common sense know is right in front of our eyes: Impose proper discipline on truants and truancy will stop.
Mississippi and other red states have seen a dramatic improvement in school test scores simply because they are applying consequences to those who slack off.
The schools mandated a comprehensive review of student performance in the third grade.
It was the threat of being left back in third grade that led students to hit the books and take extra help, rather than be left behind.
It worked so remarkably that Mississippi jumped from one of the worst educational systems to what many consider now to be the best, given its outstanding student performance of late.
We don’t need committees or commissions. We don’t need to bribe our kids to go to school. We just have to let them know that we have higher expectations, and if they slack off, there will be consequences, including having to retake that grade.
It’s called personal responsibility. It worked for two centuries in this country, but over the last few decades, it came to be considered too harsh.
It’s not too hard to fix this problem. Just do what has worked for all those centuries before the libs took over the system.