Would Arizona be better off focusing enforcement on a different kind of law?

Arizona complains about lack of enforcement of immigration laws and passes new laws making new crimes. It complains about the costs, but it is a poor state for a reason.
Would Arizona be better served if it focused its money on better schools and on enforcing this law:

Arizona Revised Statutes §15-803 School attendance
A. It is unlawful for any child between six and sixteen years of age to fail to attend school during the hours school is in session, unless either:
1. The child is excused pursuant to section 15-802, subsection D or section 15-901, subsection A, paragraph 6, subdivision (c).
2. The child is accompanied by a parent or a person authorized by a parent.
3. The child is provided with instruction in a home school.


Or would Arizona be better served by making the law apply up to age 18?

Arizona dropout rate worst in U.S.
Karina Bland
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 27, 2005 12:00 AM

Once again, Arizona's high school dropout rate is the worst in the nation, though this time we share last place with Louisiana.

For the fourth year in a row, Arizona ranks last among the states for its percentage of teens, ages 16 to 19, who have dropped out of school. The findings, based on 2003 census data, are in the annual Kids Count report released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore.

Arizona's dropout rate is 12 percent, compared with 8 percent nationally. New Jersey, North Dakota and Wisconsin, at 4 percent, share top billing.

http://www.azcentral.com/families/education/articles/0727kidscount27.html

2010-07-19T11:49:02Z

This year the legislature was salivating because they got the opportunity to end the hated "all day kindergarten" that Gov. Napolitan got them to enact just a few years ago... in fact some in the Legislature want to eliminate all public schools.

2010-07-19T11:57:34Z

Roy, are you saying she is a hero because she agreed to eliminate all day kindergarten? Or because she told a total lie about the drug mule thing, where federal stats show of over 100,000 illegal aliens arrested this last year only about 1000 had drugs?

2010-07-19T14:11:18Z

Ruth. Fascinating. Do you have ANY evidence that ANY of your story is true? Have you actually investigated the drop out rate to see who is dropping out? Have you perhaps heard the truth that illegals are not, in general, carrying drugs and certainly the Governor was off her rocker in giving the numbers she did (fed stats would say that 1% of the arrestees have drugs...that's based on over 100,000 arrests...)

Meh2010-07-19T11:50:13Z

Favorite Answer

Maybe enforcing existing alien status laws will have the long term benefit of decreasing the drop out rate?

Ruth S2010-07-19T19:22:57Z

OK! Let's take a GOOD look at Arizona!!! That's snow bird country! Retirement Center of the South West! Before Phoenix and Tucson grew up to be big cities, there wasn't very much there to warrant a lot of schools! As people moved South and established communities, businesses moved there too, and they flourished! Younger people started to get attracted to the climate, many for health reasons. You CAN check on that if you don't believe me!! Now these two cities have bright lights and stores, and the folks across the border saw an opportunity for employment! I am sure, in the beginning, nobody thought too much about if they were legally in the country or not, cos they were willing to work for a few dollars.
I know this is starting to look and sound like a novel, but bear with me, I am getting to the point and my answer to your question. It wasn't long when these migrants sent or fetched their families to live with them, and blended in with the Mexican Americans who were actually born there!
I will bet, if you take the time to check out these kids who dropped out of school, WERE and ARE illegally in Arizona! There are some very good reasons why these kids drop out of school. The parents - they would rather have them working, than learning! Now you have the Cartel sitting up in the hills, and kids make great couriers! They are paid well, so why should they waste their time in a classroom! The Cartel doesn't bother with digging tunnels anymore, although there are still a few of them in existence in other States! These kids are not only encouraged by the Cartel but their own parents and Mexican American cousins. Some even risk their lives just to get a piece of the pie. Look how many people the authorities found dead in the desert!!! We DO need Border Patrol and the FEDS to stop the Drug trafficking and the murders and kidnapping, before worrying about building better schools, which WON"T stop the truancy and the drop outs!! Those kids won't stop doing that until there is no more incentive to make easy money!

Anonymous2010-07-19T18:54:39Z

gov OF ARIZONA, JAN BREWER IS A HERO