OPINION | Brian Thomas: Chicago Public School System’s Plan is Ingeniously Sinister

Here's another situation where government is screwing things up. Chicago's erstwhile Mayor has devised an ingeniously sinister plan. Rahm Emanuel wants to make sure his government high school seniors are prepared for whatever. So, in order to receive their high school diploma, each senior must:

1. Pass their academic courses
2. Pass the state standardized test(s)

Now here's where it gets dicey. Seniors will soon need to show their local government proof of one of the following:

1. They are enrolled in a college (2 or 4 year), or
2. in a gap year program, or
3. have a j-o-b, or
4. enlisted in the military

If one of the four above are not proved, that kid will not be granted a high school diploma. This caller does not believe city government is over-stepping it's bounds, however I do.

• What's to stop Joe or Jane from getting accepted at a community college and then for financial or other reason never attending college?
• Budget cuts have led to staffing cuts at Chitown schools. What student wants to wait weeks or months for a guidance counselor stamp of approval over an acceptable graduation program? Fringe kids will be like water and find the route of least resistance just to grab the diploma. For some, that could mean "you're in the army now."
• BTW>> who wants an aggravated kid with an M-16 aimlessly walking a military base, besides ISIS?
• The smart kids will get accepted at a college.
• Chicago is not ripe with jobs for today's youth, otherwise they'd be working.

This act by Chicago's Mayor and his cronies is a calamity waiting to happen. It could be worse for our men and women that honorably serve in our armed forces. I don't know who stated it, but the line is so appropriate. "The government that governs best is the government that governs least."

Editor’s Note:  Brian Thomas is the host of Brian’s Beat on 1420 WBSM New Bedford.  He can be heard weekdays from 10am-Noon and Saturdays from 6am-9am.  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.