Just when you think you've heard it all, comes this.
A public school in Cincinnati is paying students to get to school on time and behave themselves once there. The Ohio education department designated Dohn Community High School an "academic emergency." Only 14 percent graduated last year.
The plan is going to cost taxpayers $40,000. Kids will get Visa cards for showing up every day to school. Seniors will get $25 cards and lowerclassmen will receive $10 cards. The school will also put $5 into a savings account for the student who earns a gift card.
The principal says they've tried everything else and nothing has worked. There is one thing they haven't tried: School choice. If parents could send their children to a private school, I would be willing to bet grades and attitudes would improve without gift cards. School choice is the greatest gift card of all.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Publication date: February 15, 2012
