Why not require that all young citizens graduate high school to be eligible to receive public assistance in the future?

This would have positive effects for all citizens. A high-school diploma (or equivalency) increases a person’s employability and earning potential. High-school dropouts have the highest unemployment rate, based on education level.

The average high-school dropout earns roughly 73 percent of what a high-school graduate earns in a year. Requiring children to graduate high school would increase average annual income, reduce the number of people living below the poverty line, reduce unemployment and reduce public assistance spending.

I cannot think of one good reason why a person should not either graduate high school or receive a high-school equivalency diploma. If a 16- or 17-year-old is not considered mature enough to vote or drink responsibly, then how can they be mature enough to decide that they do not need to graduate from high school?

Ronald BlodgettCamp Arifjan, Kuwait