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NOBLEJAS, Spain - The mayor of a small town in Spain figures he knows how to keep children in school: pay them.

Agustin Jimenez, Socialist mayor of the agricultural town of Noblejas in central Spain, is recommending the town's children be given a euro - the equivalent of $1.50 - for every hour they spend reading in the local library. The sweetener is part of a string of measures to be voted on by the Noblejas council in March.

Others include funds for apartments in university towns for students from Noblejas, teachers to give private lessons to struggling students, and expert advice to parents on the virtues of keeping their children at school.

Not everyone agrees with the idea. Some critics see it as a bribe that is bound to fail.

Others figure if the payments can get children hooked on reading, it may lead to greater interest in learning overall.

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It is true though that schooling is a bit of a problem in small town Spain- less so than in previous years I get the impression. My father started working when he was 14 (this was the 60's), my Aunt's husband and his brothers left school at 16 ( the last one finished school in the 90's), my dad's brother was the same. My dad's sister is the only one with and actual trade in the family with her own small business. Allot of my older sister's Spanish girlfriends dropped out of school as well- which was interesting when we would visit when she was in cegep or University to my Dad's small town.
So I understand where this is coming from- but I don't think it is a good idea- just because the kids go to study won't mean they're motivated, interested and doing well. This is a similar problem allot of small town have I think- if you have no prospects and no means to leave, why continue school ?

[ 04 February 2008: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]