Taxpayers make a huge investment in providing each student the opportunity to graduate from high school. Unfortunately not all students hold up their end of the bargain. We must work together to increase the high school graduation rate.
Students dropping out of high school is a scandal and detrimental to the United States. Students must graduate from high school or get a General Educational Diploma (or GED). One idea I have heard offered to combat this problem is to link a driver’s license to graduation.
A driver’s license is not a right but an earned responsibility. If you fail to graduate from high school, you have not earned the right to a state provided driver’s license.
Graduation trajectory could be measured early in high school. If you are on track to graduate at age 16, you can get a license. Checked again as to whether you are on track at age 17. At age 18, it would be tracked again. If your class has graduated, and you have not, the driver’s license would be revoked. At age 19, all those without a GED or a high school diploma would have their driving privileges suspended.
Those already 20 years old or older would not be affected.
Washington State already has limitations in place for teens. An individual must be at least 16 years old, pass a traffic safety education course and have an instruction permit for at least six months. In addition, get at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice (including 10 hours at night) with someone who has been licensed for five years or more.
Society simply cannot afford to have students drop out of high school. The cost to society is simply too great. The citizens are not getting their money’s worth. Society provides free education through high school. Those without a high school diploma, generally, will earn less money than their peers and put more of a burden on society through use of welfare and food stamps.
Without a high school diploma, the individual cannot attain their rightful place in society. This lack of education makes the United States less competitive in the world. To maintain our leadership as the world’s greatest nation we must have the world’s best educated people.
Education is the key to our success.
I first got into politics to support education. When I moved back to Washington State, after a career in the military, I was surprised to find school levies still required a super majority, 60 percent in favor, to pass.
Super majority had been in the Washington State Constitution since 1932. I was told to “forget about it” and “this will never change.” Instead, I fought for education.
I was the only private citizen to testify at both the Washington State House and Senate hearings in favor of the Public Education initiative “Simple Majority.” The measure passed in the Senate by one vote.
I then traveled around the state in support of “Simple Majority.” This would change the Washington State Constitution whereby local school levies could be passed by a simple-majority of 50 percent, rather that 60 percent. The statewide referendum changing the State Constitution to simple majority for school levies passed in 2007.
School District school levy victories in Battle Ground, Hockinson, Ridgefield, Evergreen, Woodland and dozens of others around the state have benefitted from the “Simple Majority” triumph.
We, through taxes, have made a substantial investment in the education of children culminating in the awarding of a high school diploma. Students must be held accountable so they cannot simply drop out without consequences. We should link a driver’s license to earning a high school diploma.
