Proposal to tie welfare to children's grades in TN

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And in Tennessee that affects family welfare payments and ties them to the children of those recipients performance in school.

You get lower grades you get lower payments joining us now on the phone is the sponsor of the bill Republican state senator Stacey -- field.

And doctor Joseph when Roberts who has been a school superintendent in both Illinois and Michigan where -- laws were proposed.

A -- to both of you thanks for being with us actually our first guest is on the phone.

I want to ask first about what's going on in Tennessee so representative -- if I can ask you.

Why you're proposing this -- -- already have a -- in place if kids don't go to school.

Parents lose 20% of -- welfare cash payments.

-- we're you know we're taking it to the next level and enlistment here in this bill and every single class because who knows what reason.

-- a -- -- our special needs child.

Or something like that -- must stop or cut back on the amount of straight cash payments -- gonna get this does nothing to do with food stamps -- wig or.

-- school lunches or anything worse -- housing vouchers this is -- straight cash payment that that the state yet or gives the these people that are.

In need but we need to stop this generational poverty.

Do you think parents can really take on that responsibility.

Of making sure their kids do better in school are they equipped.

-- -- -- I think -- listen we're not talking I'm I'm not expecting these kids don't like the magna cart.

You know 88123.

I think any Erica just about do that we have classes for parents.

We have afterschool programs -- kids are having problems we have tutoring programs up a lot of -- We have despite everything you'd ever ask for except for parents that are engaged -- -- ball.

As a parent doesn't care if a child shows up the -- they show they don't care they you know personally during this school today.

-- -- to get a -- coming to we have to motivate these parents -- only way to break the generational cycle of poverty is education.

That is the golden ticket out of poverty and some people just refused that have any responsibility.

We keep try to put it all our schools are put it all -- -- at England had -- And let me let doctor.

Doctor Robertson who has overseen the process of education in two states not Tennessee what do you think.

Well I think first of all.

Education arena gives us out title one parenting programs and we need to look at programs that are aligned themselves with the curriculum that's being taught.

We all want our parents to help their children is a -- every superintendent in this country.

But the question is how do we do this I would say that we need to look at programs that we had a head start program where bad parent -- just a patient was required.

We need to look at.

How we are going to require these parents to train them to help their children -- -- -- train the parents how to help them teach their children.

We have demonstrated parents don't want to get GE -- they -- wanted to get better.

So that I would say to him look at the program that's being used in Brazil where parent to have to attend workshops parents go to training.

They learn how to train and help their children because we now have the common core curriculum that is in place that's a challenging curriculum -- the best department aren't.

So that we haven't asked parents to do something that most of them I'm not capable -- doing.

So we look at the social economic strata vacation that we are addressing.

These parents need help.

I know I've worked in the inner city of Chicago I've been -- the hardcore schools -- I have worked with parents.

We know we need more parents help but we need to put in programs at a portable that target this population we need to engage these parents and some focus group.

How can we best help you to help your child in caddie -- that I don't know so so because the parents have basket when infected and a program help but to work.

That it sounds like a win win represented of camp field are you thinking about taking any of the money that you save and investing in parents who can then invest in their kids.

Actually my program everything edit every penny saved those back into the same program to help other people who -- Telling a lie and you know I -- I can't disagree with the whole bunch of what but what the other one says.

The thing is we have a lot of parents who couldn't give a -- we can't get on the phone they don't show up to any parent teacher -- We have to find some way to motivate those fair to say wait a second maybe it's important that I talked to the teacher once more once a year at least.

We'll see how -- her daughter's -- Doctor Roberts should this be a -- I then -- I states to consider.

I think he needs to dig a little deeper if he's targeting -- -- that don't give a flip.

Let that be the target population and let's go in there and we have to go to our homes and get these parents but isn't what we had to do in Chicago we -- to make something work we go to the home behind those bears.

Nothing stops us from our objective of getting them engaged so let's talk to some of these targeted -- that don't give a flip and find out what is it going to take for you to give a flip.

Let's build program -- -- and some accountability with -- that model.

And -- at the end if all fails let's talk about taken just 20%.

So a lot of money.

It's a that's a lot of cash money coming out of apparent hand who have to raise a child -- -- it and -- I don't.

That's the amount of money your day with -- that 20% you -- -- take it up another -- is there compromise -- considering.

Well it's like -- you know if you want to talk motivation.

Nothing motivates like cash.

-- what somebody says wait a second my kids failing maybe there's a problem because I'm not getting it they get checked it I wasn't getting.

Maybe a terrible saying it would certainly -- you talk for the schools they made actually returned our calls we had teachers who are calling.

We have afterschool program strategic for parents.

We have afterschool tutoring programs for our students but we can't get parents involved we have hit a brick wall.

Now we can search out these parents -- but sometimes very very difficult.

It's apparent self motivated.

They show up.

-- when they realize some skin in the game for themselves they show up and they take an active part and then these kids start succeeding there's not like.

Your time just said there's a successful experiment -- -- staggeringly enormous scale that's the most important that program as anti poverty program ever.

You know the -- beat.

And and representative camp -- thank you so much -- weighing in on this important issue.

Thank you so much.

Thank you we'll.

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Proposal to tie welfare to children's grades in TN

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