Tennessee Bill Would Make Kids Earn Welfare With Good Grades

They'll have benefits cut 30% without 'satisfactory academic progress'

A Tennessee state senator has introduced a bill that will cut welfare benefits by up to 30% if children don't make "satisfactory academic progress."

Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield says the law would help "break the cycle of poverty." In a blog post comparing academic excellence to a three-legged school, Campfield writes that "the third leg of the stool (probably the most important leg) is the parents," he explained. "We have done little to hold them accountable for their child's performance...This bill is giving them motivation to do more to help their children learn in school."

The bill has caused deep concerns among some in the state, including Linda O'Neal, director of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. "The maximum benefit for a mother with two children is $185 a month," said O'Neal. "That's already low. If you take $60 plus dollars away, you're just further limiting people who already have extremely few resources."

According to the bill, "satisfactory academic progress" means progressing from one grade to the next and "receiving a score of proficient or advanced on required state examinations in the subject areas of mathematics and reading/language arts."

Via the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Could this law help low-income students do better in school?

[Speedieg]

Just what kids in an already stressful situation need. These republicans continue to amaze me with their callous disregard for the down trodden. "Are there no work houses? Are there no prisons?"

[Rocker]

I didn't vote on this at all. I know people who are involved in TANF admin and they don't think there is enough motivation to move some of those parents. And then there are some who are honestly having a hard time and landed in the program. The TANF program duration is 60 months, not consecutively.

[Center]

I am sure Santorum and the home schooling base will have something to say. If the kid fails, who gets punished when TANF is cut? The kid will and possibly be punished by starvation or beating. This is morally wrong and punishes the wrong person. Maybe the pro-life base will speak up against policy against the innocent

[jessejaymes]

This is outright stupidity. You want welfare mothers to make their kids study? Then make them come to class certain days. But you don't take food out of kids mouths.

[marine1]

Is there a severe case of Ostrich syndrome in all of politics?Are kids now responsible for their parent ?

[Angry_man]

@marine1 that's what I'm talking about marine. Aren't the kids under enough stress already. Hell when my kids come home with school work, it stresses me out and I have a good paying job. I can't imagine having my child's grades make the difference in how much money my family needs to survive.

[JustTheFacts]

How about if they make good grades ... reward the child with money ... setup an account that the deadbeat, drug addict parents can't touch ... that way your encourging the child to do better in school in a realistic manner. When they graduate high school, they can use that money to go to a technical school or help pay for college. I wouldn't mind seeing my tax dollars being used for something like that rather than some politician pissing it away or embezzling it!

[martydotcom]

the benevolence of Tn. A mom with 2 kid 185.00 threatened with loss of 60.00 due to child's poor scholastic performance. Just a tad harsh staving a family over educational issues that may not be correctable short term.
Shame on them

[JustTheFacts]

God forbid the child has a learning disability ... whoever came up with this idea didn't fully think this though. I know families who have never worked a day in their lives ... every member of that family upon graduation goes on welfare ... so the idea of breaking this pattern is a good idea ... this just isn't the right solution to the problem!

[Cuthawk40]

The maximum benefit is a lot higher in Texas. I do believe that the bill would help hold parents more accountable for their children's progress in school. Although, playing devils advocate. Why should we punish children who have parent(s) that don't care about their progress in school. I feel that if its found that a child's performance in school can be linked to a poor home atmosphere and irresponsible parent(s), than that child or children should be removed from the home. The state then needs to find relatives who will care for the child or place them in a foster home. Then all benefits received by those parent(s) can be withheld because the child or children are no longer in the home.

[mwr]

if they are not special needs kids this will teach htem no free rides in life and entitlements are earned not handed out. Good possiblity they might learn some values that the aprents never did.

[Republican5001]

Tennessee for the win...perhaps the deadbeats and "downtrodden" will be more motivated to be parents instead of peers and assure their kids are in school performing on task on par.

[marine1]

have to disagree, if these dead beat parent had any responsibility about themselves in the first place, they would not have had children. All this will do is drag these kids down further.

[Republican5001]

@marine1 Ah...I see your logic. Well played sir.

[Rocker]

@marine1 - In come cases the 'parent' isn't much out of school themselves. Or lacking a H.S. diploma.

[marine1]

@Rocker that would probably be in most cases, dad but true.

[Rocker]

@marine1 - Little ol gals with 3 kids by the time they're 20 and preggers with a fourth. And then not long ago we had the dude who had fathered something like 30 children with 11 women in the Knoxville, TN news. Well, hell yeah people want to have 'em if they're not going to have to pay for 'em.

[marine1]

Not a good idea. Kids should not be accountable for their dead beat parents who won't help build a better life for them. Like everything else, goverment likes to go after the conduit because they can't deal with the source. Welfare as we KNOW IT,teaches dependence on someone else rather than teaching people to be dependent on themselves. What generation of children would Tennessee be doing this to?

[albe]

Should people be incentiveized to move to another state? Looks like downloading the case rolls to say Minnesota. Students would be pressed by the parents ,yes, but would that be a good thing? If a learning disability unknown,makes a poor mark, reaction is that the parent(s) lose ,won't resentment set in and a longterm dislike of the child? Sounds like a hotbed created for angry young person to commit say crime as a result. If personal responsiblity is what we are all about , why should one person's action result in retribution to another, if the father is a killer should the son/daughter be brushed with the same brush.HMMM.

[Granny_Grey]

This has got to be the most absurd, idiotic, moronically, stupid, vile, depraved things ever thought up by a politician. A hungry child is not going to have the ability to study and do better.
Ever hear of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? Unless the lower basic physiological needs are met/provided then the child cannot think of anything but filling his/her belly. He/she cannot focus and study in order to improve. Extreme immoral turpitude and criminal.

[marine1]

Why not go after all the guys that leave the game when they see it is going to go into overtime and when girls don't want to identify the father, then hold up ALL financial help untill they do.

[DARSB]

I can't speak for Tennessee, but around my community most recipients are single teenage moms with one or two kids who don't have enough cash to pay daycare fees or the skills to get a job at minimum wage.

[marine1]

I saw this quite often and that is why i believe that there should be parenting and learning conditions on all welfare recipients. Life requires conditions, so should welfare.

[ConserveUSA]

@marine1 Training & Education indeed to obtain job skills.

[DARSB]

@marine1 Agreed. I think the question is always how to guard against fraud.

I'm actually okay with a certain amount of waste in a system that would keep all American children from starving. C'mon, they're kids! Feed 'em first, assign blame later.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Right away the wonderful posters at Politix are quick to demonize Sen. Stacey Campfield for being concerned that people are moving out of the welfare trap through each generation instead of being trapped in it. I'd like to hear some of their suggestions, or maybe the Politix posters would be happiest to see people forever trapped on welfare. That type of thinking sure would fit in with their political leanings.

[rkinsawjoe]

Further punishing already disadvantaged children for being unable to rise above their circumstances before they are mature enough to understand,let alone affect them, shows concern in what way and for whom? It's not hard to right away demonize this kind of "concern" because it comes pre-demonized. This recent flood of non-productive,petty and vindictive bills and proposals by GOP members only shows their inability and unfitness to govern. A great many moderate and independent voters that might share common ground with republicans on many issues can't support them because of the childish,petty and thoroughly un-American way in which they conduct themselves. Your posts here are a prime example. I'd like to think you're just a guy yankin chains and having your fun but I don't think that at all. Sadly, I think your definition of a patriotic American is exactly as you present yourself, disrespectful, insulting and a little more irrelevant every day. It really is a sad commentary..

[harold_lloyd]

He should be demonized, he earned it.

You'd have to be pretty heartless to tell an eight year old boy with fetal alcohol syndrome that if he doesn't perform, he doesn't eat.

[stepped_in_it]

Ya know, I like that politicians are having ideas.....just not this idea. I wonder if these clowns ever heard of brain storming with controlled groups? Doubt it, as it would also mean that they have some business experience behind them!

[marine1]

Most politicians would not be able to earn their current salary and perks in the business world because they would have to produce something oyher than waste and that would go against their calling.

[Vance1]

A Tennessee state senator has introduced a bill that will cut welfare benefits by up to 30% if children don't make "satisfactory academic progress."

Amen!! good deal...also how about some punnishment for the parents also,
like work for benefits. Clean the patch roads, paint senior's houses, Do something!!!

[rkinsawjoe]

Wouldn't the child of poverty by definition have already "earned" the entitlements welfare provides? I really like the kicker at the end where the child must score proficient or advanced in math and reading skills to achieve "satisfactory progress".

[ConserveUSA]

Make sure the kids are going to school, good behavior, and if they fall behind then get them some help. I know there are some tough subjects. Pre-Cal was tough for me...

[cleverusername]

ridiculous idea.

[Food4thoughts]

Tennessee Bill: You're too stupid to eat!
Hungry Johnny: I'm not as dumb as I am!

[harold_lloyd]

So we tell some third grader that if he doesn't get good grades, he doesn't eat?

Have we sunk so low that anyone would even suggest that?

Shame on you Mr Campfield, you dishonor your state and your position.