A Tennessee Republican just unveiled a contentious new piece of legislation that would tie welfare cash payments to student performance in school. State Senator Stacey Campfield announced the bill last week, asking the state to curb benefits to deadbeat parents who refuse to boost their childrens’ educational attainment. Fox News explains:
Currently, parents of children who receive welfare benefits through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program can see their benefits cut by 20 percent if their child doesn’t show up for school. Campfield’s proposal goes a step further and requires students make “satisfactory academic progress.”
If they don’t, recipients could see their checks slashed by 30 percent. “Satisfactory academic progress” would reportedly be measured based on whether a student is advancing through grade levels and how they do on standardized testing. Calls and emails to Campfield’s office were not immediately returned.
This is very interesting. I saw Mr. Campfield debate a superintendent this morning on Fox. The superintendent insisted that the Tennessee school system needs to encourage parents to educate their kids through parent training conferences and other motivational schemes.
Well, it’s a great concept, but just about every superintendent across the country will say their either planning on implementing such programs, or they have been implementing them and they haven’t done jack to encourage these parents.
The fact is, nothing motivates a person more than cash. And if you cease welfare payments to lazy parents who are only advancing urban generational poverty, they might just do the right thing. Who gives a flip if it’s for the wrong reasons.
