State Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, is calling for what some may consider a draconian means of ensuring that public school children attend class. Hardy is urging U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany to file legislation that would suspend or discontinue federal assistance to parents whose children accumulate ten or more unexcused absences. A former member of the Lafayette Parish School Board, Hardy has been a strong voice for education in the Legislature, recently telling the INDsider that his twice-failed attempt to raise from 1.5 to 2.0 the minimum grade point average required for students to participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities will be reprised during next year’s session.
The body of Hardy’s letter to Boustany is reproduced below.
As you are aware, the education and welfare of our children here in our great State of Louisiana are matters very near and dear to my heart. With that in mind, I am asking that you consider proposing legislation that would, I believe, help to curb public school student absenteeism as well as motivate parents to assert at least one aspect of their parental responsibilities.
My proposal is that when a public school student has ten or more unexcused absences during the school year, if the parents of that child or children are on any and/or all types of public assistance that is funded, all or in part, by federal monies, said public assistance to the parents in question shall be suspended and/or discontinued.
Congressman, as we are both well aware, education is everything. Education enables children held captive by the cycle of poverty to break that cycle and contribute to the community as opposed to living off it. Breaking this cycle has to start somewhere.
... written by The Oracle of Gueydan , September 19, 2009 - 03:44 pm
Hardy is one different black guy. He wants to raise the bar? So much for affirmative action.
... written by what now? , September 20, 2009 - 12:43 am
Why does the independent continue to print stoshak's, i mean hardy's letters verbatim like they are pearls dropped from above? there are a hundred yahoos in Baton Rouge. Why are we so fascinated with Ricky? i guess it's because he gets all those bills passed. oh, wait.....
... written by Taxpayer , September 20, 2009 - 06:04 pm
Not a bad idea from Rep. Hardy.
Speaking of John Paul Stoshak...is he still producing home movies?
... written by yesidoknow , September 21, 2009 - 02:33 am
To: what now. I guess you haven't been looking at the legislative website. If you had, you'd see that Hardy has passed multiple bills each year. And why are we fascinated with him? Because he is unique. He tells it like it is, which is rare in politics today. You sound like an authority, why don't you run against him? Maybe not enough sand in your pants.
... written by Solutions? , September 21, 2009 - 12:58 pm
I think this is fantastic. How can you disagree with this?
... written by give me a break , September 21, 2009 - 05:43 pm
hey taxpayer, ask yesidoknow. sounds like that's him. especially since he's talking about the contents of some person's pants...!
in the real world, Hardy hasn't passed any bills of any moment. that's easy to check at http://www.legis.state.la.us/
and i agree with what now? i don't think anybody is fascinated with ricky except his staff and the ind.
... written by The Oracle of Gueydan , September 21, 2009 - 06:16 pm
John Paul Stoshak is a good reason to question Hardy's judgment. Nonetheless, you got to say Hardy has some different ideas.
... written by SB , September 21, 2009 - 06:34 pm
Whether or not you agree with The Ind's staff featuring previous letters, this one was right on and should have been featured - the idea is brilliant.
Parents shouldn't have to be scared into paying attention to their child's education; but, if that's what it takes to get kids to be at school and stay in school then I am all for Hardy's proposal.
... written by you go , September 21, 2009 - 06:36 pm
Solutions, You are right, how can you possibly disagree with this? I don't agree on everything Hardy-esque, but here he is right on!
... written by CK - let pregnant women choose between housing and childcare! , September 25, 2009 - 05:30 am
While he's at it, think about the impact it would make in our state if pregnant women could choose to have a childcare voucher over a housing voucher. What loving parent wouldn't sleep on a couch at a relative's home if in between secure housing, knowing that their infant/toddler/preschooler had guaranteed high quality childcare/early childhood education at a state-licenced facility of their choice? Wouldn't a pregnant woman's decision between the two indicate the sacrifices she is willing to make as a parent to provide a better life for her own child? And how much harder is it to make excuses for not showing up for work, or class, if you have guaranteed childcare?
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