Flintstone - No doubt some will view it as a reward but I believe it to be very few that do. It would be interesting to track those girls down now and get their views. I would guess their views have changed from when they were 13 years old. It does beg the question...where were their parents? Working two jobs to make ends meet? I too have worked with high school kids and their families. One example of mine was a father that had 6 kids and they were living in poverty (lucky to have power, heat and food at the same time). The dad had been permanently injured on the job and was raising his 6 children on his disability check, roughly $400 a month. He did not see his $400 a month as any reward, he was embarassed when I would visit the home but it did provide a minimum for he and his children. His eldest son, a high school dropout, made use of my program, state funds, and went to work. Last time I spoke with him he was making $15+ an hour as a trailer mechanic, had purchased a home and moved his family in and was supporting them. A good return on my tax dollar investment. (However, $15 an hour and a family of 7 is still considered poverty)
We could trade stories all day I'm sure.
Chris in Denver