From the state that just approved giving birth control pills to 11 year olds (without parental notification) comes another great program. Here, the nanny staters will make it required to apply for college before you can get your high school diploma:

Education Commissioner Susan Gendron proposes a requirement that seniors apply to college before becoming eligible for a diploma. The change in state rules on graduation requirements would require approval by the Legislature.

If enacted during the upcoming session, the change would affect the class of 2009, but Gendron is urging high schools to voluntarily make the change during the current school year.

The idea is to raise the number of Maine youths going to college and promote educational opportunities for all students.

WRONG!

The idea is that the state understands the students situation better than the student or the student’s parents, so it has to inject itself into the student’s life and tell him what to do. If this student wants to go to college and can afford it, he will apply to numerous colleges. He does not need the state to tell him to do so.

Also, what about the additional cost to colleges and universities? It will cost the taxpayers to process all those applications. How much money will be thrown away for applications the students have no intention of following up on after graduation? It has to cost something. And someone has to pay. That’s you.

Finally, what about the student who joins the military? Why does someone who has already signed up via the delayed enlistment program need to apply for college? He can take college classes in the military, and the government willl pay a big chunk of the expense. And after his service, the G.I. Bill will pay another part.. Is this not good enough for Maine?

How about this: if a student has reached the required level of indoctrination from the Maine Public School System, he should get his diploma and the student and the parents decide what to do after that? It’s called personal responsibility and it’s going out of style.