Al Gore promises that, if elected, he will make it illegal for all teens to drop out of high school before age 18. (Currently they may drop out at 16). In other words he wants to use the guns and threat of police force to physically force students to not drop out.
What a brilliant idea!
Why didn’t somebody think of it sooner? Because it’s not a bright idea at all. Think about it.
Generally, two types of teens drop out of school. The first are the losers who will likely never amount to much anyway. Public schools are already disruptive and dangerous enough. Why punish those who want to learn with the presence of those who are unwilling to learn? If you think public schools are dysfunctional now, they will become even worse under such a law.
The other type of student to drop out of high school is the very bright, independent, entrepreneurial Bill Gates type. This individual usually feels stifled by the one-size-fits-all, unchallenging intellectual atmosphere of many public schools. He or she may drop out of high school, but then go on to do bigger and better things in the business world or the military. Gore’s proposal could inhibit, and maybe even crush, the spirit of some talented young renegade.
Schools belong to those who want to learn. Attempting to force a mind to think is futile and na