St. Louis Schools' Parents Getting Paid $900 to Make Sure Their Children Go to School

The St. Louis public school system took a program that was already tried and took it a step further. If you remember last school year, iPods and other gadgets were offered to children who regularly attended class. Now St. Louis public schools offer cash to children with good attendence records.

From STLToday:

Stacey Wright had more than a dozen choices when it came to enrolling three of her children in an elementary school, from charters to magnets to traditional public schools in every corner of the city.

She chose Jefferson Elementary School, the brick St. Louis public school across the street. And for that, she may get $900.

For the first time, a local organization is offering parents a cash incentive to enroll their children at Jefferson. The money is limited to students who didn't attend the school last year. To get it, the kids must finish this semester with near-perfect attendance and receive no out-of-school suspensions; the parent must attend three PTO meetings. The program is being offered to families in three mixed-income housing complexes surrounding the school, where most of the students live.

"It's an awesome deal," Wright said. "A lot of us can use that money. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it makes a big difference."

So let's forget that it's the law that children attend school. And lets forget that good parents should want their children in school preparing for their futures. Money is the reason parents like Stacey Wright want their children to go to school regularly. That's why she chose her children's school anyway. It won't be long until Obama is luring voters with offers like this.