While we support educational opportunities, we question Gov. Eric Greitens' signing of a bill to establish four adult high schools in Missouri.
Our knee-jerk reaction was cynical, we admit: The schools will use money from our indebted federal government to give a second chance to those who threw away a first chance at a high school diploma. We'll be spending millions so these people can tell prospective employers they have a "diploma" rather than the equivalence, what used to be known as a GED.
Granted, not everyone without a high school diploma "threw away" their chance; there are other circumstances that lead to not graduating from high school.
Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, a supporter of the bill, previously told the Columbia Missourian: "From the employers I've talked to, I think there is a stigma if you don't have a regular high school diploma. A GED is OK, but I think they feel there is something missing there; a gap."
If it's an issue of terminology, let's just call the equivalency degree a diploma and save a few million.
Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, sponsored a similar bill in the House to the one approved.
On Thursday, we reported Fitzwater's legislative assistant, Eric Harmon, said funding for the program will come from a combination of federal money the state receives for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and from the at least $2 million investment the nonprofit that wins the bid for the program will have to put in.
The program has been described as a pilot program modeled after a similar one in Indiana.
Missouri's program includes job training that will include applying for a job, interviewing, proper dress, etc.
But just as offering adult high schools seems to overlap somewhat with the existing high school equivalency degree, the job training seems to duplicate what is already offered at some job centers (including one in Jefferson City) through the Missouri Division of Workforce Development.
The new program would offer physical schools, but also could offer online classes. The current program for equivalency high school degrees also offers classes in physical locations, including Jefferson City.
With the state budget as tight as it is, and with the mounting federal debt, is this really a good time to take a chance with a pilot education program that has some duplication with existing services?
Lawmakers included solid measurable goals into the new law, so hopefully statistics in future years will prove the program's value and show that our concerns are unfounded.