More forced Schooling

Beginning as early as next fall, Manitobans will no longer be allowed to drop out of school at age 16.

Education Minister Nancy Allan announced Thursday that a new law will soon be introduced that will mandate that students stay in school until age 18 or until they graduate from high school.

And just what is the point of this exactly? If a person wants to drop out when they are 16, perhaps those forced final 2 years are going to be pretty unproductive. Perhaps the Prussian style school system we have in Manitoba Public Education isn't working for them and they would like to try a different path like get a job in a chosen vocation for a few years.

Under the current Public Schools Act, parents can be fined up to $500 if their child drops out before age 16. The rarely-used penalty requires a school division to make a complaint through the courts.

Allan said part of the new law will involve updating and strengthening the penalty, which she said could involve doubling the fine, extending it to the student, or other measures.

And that is all of the answers government people have; force and fines. And if I as a parent refuse to pay this fine because I respect my child's choices? What do you think happens then?

Public Education is becoming more and more like jail for teenagers.