School progress in exchange for driving?

That is what Governor Perry is proposing. He wants to tie school performance to the ability of teens to get a driver's license. So, if a teen drops out he/she can kiss that learner's permit goodbye.

It is not without controversy. What about those teens who are forced to drop out because of a family hardship. They could be punished even more, if they can't get to a job. But, supporters see the upside of teaching teens about responsibility and success.

We should mention that about 19 other states already have similar laws and Texas does require teens to prove they "attended" school to get a license, but this goes further. This would require teens to show progress toward a diploma. Tell me what you think.