Comments

1. I wouldn't have a problem with this

   If my child's school had a program like any of those listed in the article. I think the kids that are scoring higher on tests and are going to school more often must be learning SOMETHING. What this article does not mention is what percentage of the school's population that DO NOT receives any of these "bribes". The article focuses on the percentage of increase in number of those who pass the tests or improve their attendance. The article does not state the actual starting point, so let's say a school with 1,000 kids in it had 200 kids passing the standardized tests, then after the "bribes" the percentage of kids who then passed the standardized tests increased 40% then the number of kids passing only increases from 200 to 280 out of the 1,000. 720 students are still not passing. My feeling is that if "bribes" help the kids learn AND pass so they can graduate, then that is great! But also what needs to be mentioned is "bribing" does not always work. I know there a lot of parents out there who tell their kids I will give X amount for each A, B, C or even D and it still doesn't change how well the kid does in school.

   7 months ago In response to Cash for Grades

2. Read the Attached Article

   When you read the article that goes along with this blog you will see that the person serving time knew that his friends were going to commit a criminal act and was even in on the conversation about maybe having to "take out" the girl who got killed. He is getting his just punishment. But I also agree with the other posts, the mother of the girl should have been arrested and should hold as much responsibility as the rest of the group since she was the dealer.

   7 months ago In response to Driven

3. The Fire Chief Was WRONG!

   I have been trained as an EMT. During that training we were told that only the medical examiner who goes to the scene and/or a doctor in a HOSPITAL can declare someone as dead. This included paramedics who are more highly skilled than EMT's. In this case the paramedics should have done life support and transported the victim immediately to the hospital where doctors and nurses would have taken over her care. I am not saying this person would have survived, but they would have given her a chance to possibly get a life saving procedure done while she was still within that "golden hour" window.

   8 months, 2 weeks ago In response to The Decision

Define what responsibility means to you.