[slibhb]

The idea that we can offload child-rearing to the government is insane and will never, ever work. When shown proof of that, your response is to double down on your mistake. Parents need to actively encourage and discipline children. The fact that this isn't obvious to everyone is deeply troubling.

What we're seeing here is the breakdown of extra-legal authority and responsibility. Truancy laws and CPS only work when the vast majority of parents do their job.

[rusabd]

> Truancy laws and CPS only work when the vast majority of parents do their job.

That is a dangerous thought. The next thing one might say is why we need truancy laws and CPS if not to harass well-behaved middle class parents.

[slibhb]

That's the opposite of what I said. Truancy laws and CPS work great when parents are "well-behaved".

But they aren't a substitute for "well-behaved" parents. No matter how much money the government spends it will not be able to raise children.

I don't know how to solve this problem but I am sure any solution involves recognizing what's going on here, which you are not doing.

[rusabd]

> But they aren't a substitute for "well-behaved" parents

Should we discourage some people having children then?

[justsid]

Realistically and objectively, the answer has to be yes. Although you get into all sorts of issues if you actually go down that line, so practically the answer is no.

[unishark]

I think the point was the student will still fail. Truancy laws can force them to sit in a chair. But they can't make the student care about passing when their parent isn't holding them to any such standards.