The headline reads “Florida school tackles chronic absenteeism with unconventional model — and it’s working,” but that’s a lie. This is a carefully written story that not only ignores the facts, it downright fabricates them.
First, let’s look at the most obvious lie- that the school is working. The school’s graduation rate is 9 percent, less than one in ten. Even with their “largest graduating class yet” they are graduating less than half of the students who are currently still there. The student body here is about 314 students, with more than 200 of them being 12th graders. Who cares if you graduate from a program like this? We have public schools who are graduating students that are literally illiterate. I once had a student in the 10th grade who wrote assignments like this one.
More than a third of Florida’s students are chronically absent. This school is intended for students who won’t go to school. That’s a real problem, especially when you remove the kids who at the top of the class- the college prep kids, the ones who are dual enrolled, the honor students. I don’t understand how this school makes a difference, since when the kids DO come to this school, they are only there for half a day. This is nothing more than a daycare center that awards a diploma for merely being present. The students can’t even meet that absurdly low standard.
Making things worse, students and parents actively try to get the teachers who DO hold kids to a standard fired.
One other thing that this article flat out misrepresents- 85% of the student body of this school is not white, yet the interviewed the white girl. I’m guessing it was to conceal the fact that it is a nearly homogenous school.
This entire school is a waste of money, and only perpetuates the cycle of poverty and lack of education. I have a more cost effective solution:
For students under the age of 15:
- If a student misses more than 5 school days in a quarter, then the parents will be subject to a monetary fine of up to $250, unless they can produce a doctor’s note outlining an illness that prevents the child from coming to school.
- If a student misses more than 10 school days in a semester, then that fine increases to a maximum of $1,000. If the 10 day absence is due to an illness of the child, then there will be a hearing where a panel will review the doctor’s explanation of the illness. Also: If the ruling is that the child’s absence is unexcused by illness, the parent doesn’t get any public assistance- no welfare, no food stamps, nothing. Get your kids to school, or we aren’t going to pay you to raise more little drains on society.
- If a student misses more than 30 days in an entire school year, then the parent can be sentenced to up to 30 days in jail and additional fines. Additionally, the parent is not eligible for any public assistance for 3 years.
For students over the age of 15:
- If a student is tardy to school more than 5 times in a semester, then the student loses campus parking privileges. Take the bus.
- If a student skips or otherwise misses 15 hours of any single class in a single school year, they will automatically fail the course and their parents would be subject to a fine of not more than $500. The student’s driver’s license is suspended for not less than 6 months.
- If a student misses more than 5 school days in a quarter, then the parents will be subject to a monetary fine of up to $250, unless they can produce a doctor’s note outlining an illness that prevents the child from coming to school.
- If a student misses more than 10 days in a school semester, they will be subject to a hearing that will determine whether or not they are defacto dropouts. If they are ruled to be dropouts, the student will be removed from taxpayer funded school and will not be able to re-enroll in school at taxpayer expense. Wanna skip school and waste money? Do it on your own dime.
- Dropouts are not eligible for any public assistance for at least 3 years, or until 21 years of age, whatever comes first. You already had public assistance in the form of a free education, and you aren’t going to use your failure as a means of getting money to be an even bigger waste of time than you already are. Stop being a loser. We are deporting tons of illegal immigrants, and someone has to harvest the crops- you can go pick lettuce or something.
Harsh? It’s no harsher than what the government will do to me if I refuse to pay all of the taxes that are the source of this wasted money. It’s time we stop wasting all of this money.
19 Comments
Rick T · August 11, 2025 at 12:10 pm
Schools need to go back to the old track system. Some students (~15%) are simply incapable of learning much beyond basic reading and math, keeping them in school beyond about 5th grade doesn’t improve things. Give them training as low level manual laborers and turn them loose to jobs where they will be supervised as necessary.
Some are capable of more, so 8 to 10th grade is reasonable. They are the new apprentices for the trades, and if they apply themselves can be very financially successful. They need algebra, an understanding of interest rates, etc.
The remaining ~15% are the one who can actually go to college and succeed, so 12 years of classes with sciences, math to pre-calculus or calculus, etc.
The current ‘one size to fit the least capable students’ system needs to end.
Joe Blow · August 12, 2025 at 8:46 am
Thus you have uncovered the underlying problem with the system.
Everyone is equal.
They’re not, obviously, anyone who has met more than 3 people can tell you that… but the current system insists on forcing the issue and making it so, regardless of facts. Ergo, since the bottom cannot be brought UP, the bar gets lowered, until we’re all retards with 80-IQ educations. No Child Left Behind. Wait until they start strapping weights to the successful athletes so the fat lazy ones can compete.
The idea of merit and hard work would make the stupid and lazy feel bad, and we can’t have that… the female perspective of feelings being more important than facts is what drives it.
This is why I say things like: Repeal the 19th…. Prior to that, meritocracy was the answer – male centered society was very different, wasn’t it? Funny we all wish we could go back to Mayberry, ignoring the ‘thing’ that changed just before it all went to shit. Nobody notices that the people responsible (wimmens) are telling you it’s ‘mean’ or ‘wrong’ for you to say or think that (there it is again – feelings over facts!) You’ll understand it eventually. It really is the fault of women rising to status in our society. Simply fact. You can argue whether its a good or bad thing for society, that is a valid argument, but the cause is pretty obvious if you’re being objective. Women and Men aren’t equal anymore than smart and stupid are, but that drive for equality is what started it all.
This is the birthplace of Eugenics – take it to the next logical conclusion: the thought exercise should bring you to the conclusion we currently call Eugenics – it did for all the AI models! But we don’t talk about that in ‘polite society. Why? FEELINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT!
Gerry · August 11, 2025 at 12:15 pm
One small point. At least two of the people I met and worked with went to school only 4 hours a day, typically 8-noon. One is from Brazil and one from Thailand. Both are quite bright and good workers and now US citizens. The home schooled kids usually only study about the same.
As for your point on truancy, I do agree the parents need to feel the pain. The problem is their parents tend to be illiterate as well and do not value an education.
Michael · August 11, 2025 at 2:23 pm
You’d soon retitle this peace as Failure of an entire SYSTEM, friend.
WHY? FIRST you have the NOTIFICATION Issue.
How do you plan on Notifying the Parents (IF you can FIND them) that student failed to go to school today?
You really have to as waiting until they have failed several days in a row and cutting benefits isn’t really kosher.
A single mom might NOT KNOW the kid is skipping. Kids lie also you know.
How are you going to NOTIFY them? Email? (please..) Mail? Too many days until delivery, Telephone? They will learn to ignore that number pretty quick. IN PERSON? WOW that might need COMBAT PAY for the poor sods that get that job.
Not off topic here I once paid the Sheriffs their FEE for delivery of my court summons as required by the Courts for a little legal issue. They went several times and told me plainly they could see the gentleman in question peeping out the window, but NOBODY WAS HOME.
THEN we have the judgement and enforcement phase.
Good luck finding school board members willing to get themselves DOXXED and assaulted for ratting the little hoodlums out. Tires are expensive. Drive by shootings might be more accurate than normal.
THEN there is the LITTLE Problem of FINDING Judges that will not forbid this AUTOCRATIC Dictator stuff. Look to the Judges blocking Trump at every turn for details.
The system is far from broken; it’s DESIGNED to create a Serf Class for the Technological Overlords pleasure.
I have a table over there with coffee if you’d like to show me my errors here.
Bear in Indy · August 12, 2025 at 12:17 am
You can thank our feckless politicians; the Uniparty for this tragedy/travesty.
A family member is barely literate, thanks to public education.
Let’s see if the Commie from NYC can fix it. Right?
Bear in Indy
DrBob · August 11, 2025 at 2:26 pm
I like it! Schools have for too long worked on a positive incentive basis. “Read ten books, get a pizza”. That only works with kids whose parents have skin in the game.
TRX · August 11, 2025 at 7:10 pm
Forcing attendance means the public daycare system will have most of its seats filled, but doesn’t address the “not learning anything” problem.
Divemedic · August 11, 2025 at 7:18 pm
A large part of the issue is that the students aren’t in school. I saw that first hand.
A second part of the issue is that many students don’t value education, because their parents don’t either.
Kristin · August 11, 2025 at 11:12 pm
Unless you have kids in elementary school, especially the lower grades, you don’t know how often they catch a bug and should stay home a day or two to rest, recover and NOT SPREAD it! They don’t always need a doctors visit – which costs money. So there isn’t always a doctors note available. Doesn’t make the illness any less valid. My child legitimately was sick or had medical issues (dental appts, etc) that required missing all or part of the day for over the allotted time our county deemed ok. That is essentially forcing and incentivizing kids to go to school sick and spread germs. Completely unnecessary if teachers would keep parents up to date on missed work with necessary tools online etc. Absenteeism isn’t the issue. It’s lack of parent involvement and pushing sick kids to come to school – thus making kids sick so much more often for a few years!
Divemedic · August 12, 2025 at 4:20 am
Your kid is absent more than 20 days per school year? Are they really sick an eighth of the time? Or are you taking them out for your own convenience?
Exile1981 · August 12, 2025 at 7:50 am
Our school requires both parents cell numbers, work numbers and a home number, unless you are on assistance then only need 1 number. If a kid misses a day, even if we call to say he is not coming in, the schools automatic system starts calling. First the hone phone goes off, then the wifes cell gets called, then mine gets called then my cell rings again because my office phone is forwarded to my cell. This happens every period of the day, then once more to tell us he missed the whole day.
Our school in the winter has days were its too cold for the buses to run (anytime its below -30C), but they keep the school open so they meet the mandated days of teaching and sent a text to parents telling them they are responsible for getting the kid to school and home otherwise they mark them as absent. My opinion is if it isn’t safe for the bus driver to drive at those temps why should i drive the kids at those temps.
In an average year we have 10-12 days of no buses. Under your system we would be punished.
Kristin Harris · August 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Really sick 20 days. Many viruses kids get (at least my kids when young) have a fever that lasts a few days, also not permitted to go to school unless fever free for 24 hours. So tag a “get well day” on bc I play by the rules to try and prevent spreading germs! So if they get sick Monday, have a fever for 4 days – which is normal around here – they’re out 5 days. Add in some dental appointments (bc my guy had tooth issues so one appointment to look at it, one to pull tooth, one for cleaning…) already at 8 days with just one sickness. 20 days truly isn’t crazy if they have a few viruses & and some other issues happening requiring appointments (many doctors and such here close before school is even out most days -3pm!). I understand it seems a lot, but I never take my kid out for my own convenience. Why would I want my kid home when they should be at school? Way less convenient for me!
Divemedic · August 16, 2025 at 8:45 am
So why should I pay for your kids’ school that you are making excuses to not send them to? The fine I proposed is to reimburse the taxpayer for the expenses that you are wasting.
20 days out is crazy- that is chronic absenteeism because your kid is missing one out of every 8 school days.
Grumpy51 · August 12, 2025 at 11:27 am
Might want to review 10th grade HS Biology again. Spreading germs (being exposed) is NEEDED for the immune system to develop and strengthen. Anyone remember “Pox (chicken) parties”?? Our parents would let kids play together who had the pox to develop our immune systems. (The system is called lock-n-key)
I’m in medical (have been since 1981). The standard phrase in family practice – If your kid goes to daycare, he’ll get sick 2-3 times a week, but when goes to public school (~ age5), will get sick 1-2 times a month. If your kid doesn’t go to daycare, he’ll get sick 1-2 times a month, but when goes to public school (~age5), will get sick 2-3 times a week.
@HomeInSC · August 12, 2025 at 5:06 am
Maybe those evil WEF goons are onto something when they talk about useless eaters. I’m not crazy about their wide net that sppears to include me but exactly what are these uneducated, largely uncivilized people good for? Can they pull their own weight in a modern society or will they just drag it down?
Joe Blow · August 12, 2025 at 8:27 am
I think the educational complex itself has been broken (insert long story why here).
I was recently involved in a situation at an apartment complex loaded with college kids (from what I had considered a fairly decent college – daughter attends there). 5 students were in the parkinglot (all on facetime) with a stuck vehicle, because they couldn’t figure out how to ‘work’ the new government approved gas-can. In itself a humorous story – but not one of them even thought of taking the spout off and just pouring it from the can?! I blew their minds with that trick.
Then the icing on the cake? Car wasn’t even out of gas, the needle was close to “E”, so she parked it (blocking in 3 other cars) and called her friends since she didn’t know what to do.
We’ve all seen/read the stories of students that can’t do math, speak English nevermind write, address an envelope… hell, these ones couldn’t work a gas can!
Thousands of them. Millions even at this point. No appreciable skills. Zero. None. They can’t even reason. And worse, they THINK they’re highly educated and smart!
WTF is going to happen? The reports ARE surfacing from companies everywhere – completely unemployable!
What do we do w/ all these living, breathing, eating, shitting, debt-saddled Americans? They’re not simply going to vanish… This is why some people think UBI is the answer. Fix the education system? Pshaw, hell no, that’s not the American way! We’ll legalize weed and give everyone free money! It’s not like the previous article in this blog was about the reduction in purchasing power due to inflation caused by incessant money printing.
Fucked.
We’re fucked, that’s the only way to put it.
McChuck · August 12, 2025 at 11:28 am
Formal schooling should begin at age 8 and end at age 13. After that the teenagers get grouped by ability and interest into college prep (no more than 20%), trade apprenticeships, entry-level part-time work, or “remedial life skills”. They finish these programs at age 16 and are on their own thereafter.
SoCoRuss · August 12, 2025 at 2:08 pm
For me, I DON’T think its harsh enough for the kids at all. Make some work requirements for them, you don’t want to get educated then work like a dog for low pay and see how much that sucks. Believe me I know I was there as a kid, did that and got the calluses for long hours after every school day.. As for no welfare for 3 years? NOPE. no welfare EVER!! You made a choice now live with it and the parents if on welfare, that’s gone also. You can go live under a bridge in a box or you can decide to change, your fucking choice!
BUT you have to make sure the “teachers” have a part in this. I refuse to call these fucks today educators until they prove it. I had a handful of really shitty teachers who really didn’t give 2 fucks about me and that gave me an attitude also unfortunately that lasted for years.. Spend a little extra time to explain something to me that I just couldn’t get in the 40 min class time, fuck that. My motivation changed after graduation and starting in the military, wife and kids came along and my drive changed to supporting them no matter what. Me a poor white trash southern boy who by what my college admin folks told me they couldn’t figure out how the fuck I graduated. But I worked my ass off beside working my military job I went to night school and had a second job on weekends and no school periods. NOBODY gave me anything. I earned it. I have 2 degrees with a couple minor Associate degrees now. Unless someone understands and truly wants it you cant just make them do it to a point, it won’t take. Its takes all sides working: Kids ,parents, schools and a .gov system who care for the kids not just for pay and benefits from a commie union that controls a school system and who couldn’t give 2 shits for the kids success…
Anonymous · August 12, 2025 at 11:06 pm
I went to a catholic school. I did not homework, but aced the tests, so I pulled a c average. The only problem I had was a math teacher who could not teach. I failed her class, but was not held back because I did self-study over the summer. She was trying to teach us to multiply bi-nomials but could not explain it to save her life. She was out for two days and the sub was the part-time PE instructor. I asked him how to do it, and he explained it clear as glass. When I came back the next year having passed my self study tests, the sucky math teacher was gone.
I drifted through High School, then messed around and joined the military. That cleared my head. Three weeks out of boot camp I wanted nothing more than to get out and go to college. But I stuck it out.
When I got out, I did college and got straight A’s. I was paying for it, so I was not going to waste around.
Any kid doesn’t want to take advantage of free schooling? Send him to a work camp so he can see how the world works. Any teacher protesting with signs that say “Save Are Kids!” Fire ’em and send THEM to work camps. Any parents that won’t raise their children? Cut them off from all public support and send them to work camps.
Worked for me.
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