Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Recent articles in the Gazette-Journal point to continuing problems with SOL scores and accreditation woes. I understand that these problems exist in other counties in the Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck, and parents, administrators and faculty struggle to improve these scores and see their local schools move into “fully accredited” status. The focus is usually on compensatory educational programming and mentoring; however, something important is overlooked.

I do not believe that mentoring and modified teaching techniques will accomplish much until students are better motivated to perform well. Well-intentioned but misguided welfare programs, charities and lax grading standards have weakened the link between enhanced quality of life that results from a good job. An awareness that a good job often follows a good education and good work habits has been lost on much of the current cohort of students. In short, many students conclude that they can neglect their studies and still enjoy much of what they want. They have been dis-incentivized, and they will not apply themselves to their studies until they are re-incentivized to do so. I have a plan.

I suggest that when schools issue interim reports in a couple of weeks, parents give their middle school and high school children the following quiz:

1. What are the three branches of government?

2. Who is your congressman?

3. From what country did the United States become independent?

4. What do we celebrate on the Fourth of July?

5. Name one of your U.S. senators.

6. What is the significance of the expression “9/11”?

I also suggest that parents put some money on the table and ask their child to make change, assuming a purchase costing $3.47 and payment is made with a $10 bill.

If the child cannot do five of these seven tasks, they lose all access to smartphones, video games and television for two weeks. At the end of the next grading period, the quiz is repeated with the penalty for failing raised to three weeks. The quiz repeats throughout the year.

Andrew J. Billups

White Stone, Va.