"WHY DID THE KIDS PUT BEANS IN THEIR EARS?"

According to the newspaper article, truancy is a problem in Nebraska and Gov. Heineman  wants to "redirect state funds" to deal with it. This brings to mind the wisdom of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones and their musical, "The Fantasticks". One of the songs begins with this lyric:

WHY DID THE KIDS PUT BEANS IN THEIR EARS?
NO ONE CAN HEAR WITH BEANS IN THEIR EARS.
AFTER AWHILE THE REASON APPEARS,
THEY DID IT 'CAUSE WE SAID NO!

That lyric implies that kids tend to want to do the opposite of what they are told to do. If true, maybe we shouldn't be telling kids, YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL! It might also explain why it is so hard to find a kid who will admit that he likes school. For too many kids, it is just not cool to like school. 

Instead of telling them they have to go to school, maybe we should look at the situation a different way, maybe even use some of that wisdom from "The Fantasticks". Before spending money for more truant officers, good money after bad, how about considering something like this, something that would cost nothing?  

IT'S YOUR CHOICE PROGRAM

After their freshman year of high school, it would be up to the student whether or not they continue going to school. They would be free to drop out of school, at that point, by signing a contract with these provisos:

1. They would relinguish their right to any future financial support from government, city, county, state or Federal.
2. If their parents receive financial support from government, that support would be reduced by 25%.
3. They would agree to have a job within three months, and be self-supporting. 
4. If they continue living with their parents, they would agree to pay them for room and board.

The contract would have a CHANGE OF MIND clause. This clause would allow the person to return to school, within one year, if they changed their mind. This clause could be used twice, allowing the person two opportunities to learn the consequences of the choices they make. After using the clause twice, they would be on their own should they drop out of school again.

This program would have two goals:

1. To change children's attitude about school. Changing it from something they feel they HAVE TO DO, are being FORCED TO DO, to something they will come to realize, on their own, that they NEED TO DO, MUST DO in order to survive and get ahead in the world.

2. To give parents a powerful reason, a financial reason, to be involved in their children's education, and the choices they make.

This sketch-of-an-idea is offered as a new way, a different way, to look at the situation. 


PS, * I disagree with Governor Heineman, when he was quoted in the article as saying - "If you're not in school, you can't learn." I believe you can learn anywhere if you have curiosity, and if you can read.