How about a letter proving they've been sold into bondage, or forced to take out student loans?

You don't screw people over under the guise of trying to help them think ahead. Some kids need more time to figure out what they want or to save money to go to trade school.

of my life. I was just 17. Then you have #45 who of course will get rid of student loans and financial aid. So how will they pay for college?

Those two years pointed me in the direction I'm in now some 20 years later.

I worked numerous garbage jobs that all required a diploma.

How Republican of you, Rahm.

What a dick.

Maybe he can fix the violence there before dictating what education choices people make.

is actually a Democrat.

He gives the whole party a bad name.

The students with family members who own their own business will have an easy out.

Rahm was a neo-conservative and a neo-liberal, if I recall.

HIGH SCHOOL life!

Most jobs require a HS Diploma just to apply. What a horrible catch-22.

So high school on its own is basically worthless?
What an ass.

Fuck him.

He's a fucking asshole

will not accept because of some type of health condition, are in no way college material, and there is no trade school for what they would be good at or want to do? Are they going to be forced to go to a trade school for something they have absolutely no desire to do? Is this asshole going to promise them a job when they get done? Who is going to serve his damn burgers and clean his toilets...they do not have trade schools for that. Who is going to pick up the garbage at his curb...they do not have trade schools for that. I can also guarantee if people are forced to join the army then the army will be able to pay them less and not take care of them as well and it will be a little more like a draft. Colleges and trade schools would hike the price because people would have no choice but to go. This man is a shriveling piece of crap.

I snickered. Dang that was funny!

who graduates and then goes to work for the family business.

For a lot of people that's a perfectly good career path.

they need to make sure all students get competent guidance counselors, to make sure dreams can be realized

Rahm Emmanuel is one cruel man. I can't think that he's the type that doesn't think through ideas and the logical consequences of them. So I have to conclude that he is cruel.

This will only ensure that the number of students that don't graduate high school will explode. It's bad enough to propose this idea before college is free for everyone. But, there are numerous barriers to entering college. Money is only one of them, though granted it's a big one. And not everyone chooses to enter college right away, or to even go at all. Some kids do choose to enter the work force right away. They don't get to graduate? That's ridiculous.

there is a major clarification at the beginning of the piece now which addresses some of the largest problems mentioned. City college is free to any CHS grad., exemptions can be granted for hardship, and a job offer letter suffices. That said, I do think there are some major problems with this especially for the city colleges. I could imagine that more than a few students will use that as a last resort to get the diploma and either not show up to college or show up but not do any work. Either one could be quite problematic for the colleges. Also where would the money come from for the increase in enrollment to those colleges.