[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by mustmove

There is no surefire carrot, stick, or location for your kids to do well. That said kids in affluent suburbs have better role models and more positive peer pressure than kids in VT. What's the point of studying to be a snowplow driver or career lift rat?

That's not necessarily true. Some of the most affluent suburbs of Providence have some of the most problems with their kids, especially now since there have been deaths and people aren't allowing the cops to get away with taking money from parents in exchange for letting their kids off their hook.

Education is mostly what you make of it. If you instill good values in your kids, they're more likely to do better. If parents don't care, the kids are less likely to care. The quality of the school only helps to a certain point.

[GypsySoul22]

I agree the individual has to be motivated but most kids are not, when little, interested in the long term usefulness of education so the parents must push them a little. Good habits like reading instead watching hours of tv, exercising over smoking and sitting around drinking beer are instilled by the family values.

I cannot set a good example of an educated person for my child if I am constantly frustrated trying to get 'any job' let alone one I went to 6 years of college to obtain.