[summer]

Thank you so much for your post and endorsement there, Amelia.

I especially appreciate it because you teach the same population I have taught. And, you know: some of these kids think they know it all at 13, so -- if nothing works in terms of behavior modification, then, let them go find out.

And, IMO, here in FL, this idea really could be tried on an experimental basis in a city like Orlando, where there are SO many of these low-paying service jobs due to the hotel and tourist industry.

I honestly think some kids will have a rude awakening after they leave school to work at age 14 and buy all the consumer goods they can buy; and, by 15, may be thinking twice about the value of school --- and who knows, at 16, they may want to come back. Having a motivated kid return to school at 16 is much better than having that same kid drop out at 16.

And, for certain other kids, I think there needs to be more options in vocation education. Plumbers and electricians earn more than many teachers.

[summer]

I meant: "...better than having that UNmotivated kid drop out at age 16."

[summer]

vocation = vocational

[Amelia]

And, for certain other kids, I think there needs to be more options in vocation education. Plumbers and electricians earn more than many teachers.

Not to mention, some kids do really well if you give them a "hands-on" job with fairly fast, tangible results, but terribly with pen-and-paper sorts of things -- basically because the pen and paper stuff doesn't interest them at all.

The behavior thing will have to be addressed sooner or later, however; people who behave at work the way some of these students behave in class will not keep jobs long.