to thinking of the one common denominator that a vast majority of the losers they deal with have in common: I would be willing to bet that 90+ per cent are high school drop outs.

Now, what department of county government takes up the most money? The Bradley County School System. Did you know that less than 7 out of 10 students who enter high school in Bradley County will graduate?

Let me say, the school system isn't totally responsible for this drop out rate, but they certainly have a share in it. It has long been proven traditional education does not work for evidently 3 out of 10 students, but no effective wide spread alternative program has been established for them. The other contributing factor for the drop out rate is the large segment of parents who don't work, draw some type of check, and give no support or encouragement to their child to stay in school. In fact, the only encouragement many of these dropouts get from their parents is "hell no, you ain't dropping out - they'll cut our food stamps!"

The solution? Since the school system is failing almost 1/3 of the students they are paid to graduate, take 10% of the budget for secondary schools and give it to the sheriff's department. That should more than meet Sheriff Gobble's wildest budget dreams. Remember all of those who dropped out because they lacked motivation from their parents? The sheriff's department would be required to use a portion of the money to establish GED classes. As a motivational tool, misdemeanor sentences would be suspended and the inmate released upon completion of their GED.

Make sense? Of course it does! Unfortunately, our local government is not allowed by state and federal law to make decisions on what makes "sense." Oh well, back to the Gobble Squabble I guess.
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