Hey teachers! Opinions on drop-out age?

OK, my two cents on this subject from someone who has raised 3 children and been very involved with tons of other kids. Not every child is cut out for the traditional classroom and forcing them to go can lead to aggression and other types of acting out in defiance of being forced to do something that is just not for them. Most of these kids can take the alternative of completing high school in a separate atmosphere such as what JCC offers or getting a GED and continue on to become wonderful and productive adult member of our society. It is something that must be taken on a child by child basis.

This is not because the child is less intelligent than their peers, sometimes the ones that drop out are actually more intelligent, therefore resulting in boredom in the classroom. Each parent must look at their child and make the decision based on their own child, not what everyone else expects to be the norm.

While i am not suggesting dropping out is an option anyone would desire for their child, it is not the end of the world or that child's future if they choose another path.

 

If everybody has to go to college, who is going to build the homes, fix the cars, etc.? Everybody is different, what's best for one is not necessarily best or even possible for all. As some others have pointed out, there are successful people out there who have never been to college. There are also, I'm sure, college graduates who are not at all successful.

 

I read something in the newspaper a couple of months ago that I think has some merit. It would involve changing the whole way HS worked in this country which I don't know could ever happen. The way it works is this: Every child takes challenging coursework through 10th grade. These coures would cover everything that most people would need to be sucessful out in the real world. Then they would have to take a test to prove they actually learned the info. Those who fail the test would start on remedial coursework and then retake the test. Those who pass make a choice to follow a rigorous college track which would last another 2-3 years and they would graduate with an Associate's degree. They would then go on to a 4 year college and save a lot of tuiton money. The other choice for those that pass the test would be to enter a vocational track and they would graduate with skills to obtain an entry-level position in the real world and have the ability to further their skills on their own in order to move up. I'm thinking it would be for jobs such as an LPN, teacher's assistant, mechanical job, etc

I sure this plan has good points and weak points. It would give all students a real purpose in high school and a motivation to learn what they needed to to pass the exam. From what I have heard, a lot of students drop out because they feel like what they are learning is not relavant to them. it would allow college-bound students the chance to work in advanced level class with like-minded students(not with kids who have already dropped-out mentally) and furfill some oftheir college-level work.
When I was in high school, a lot of my classmates were done for the day at lunchtime. What a waste of their and the system's time! At least with this plan they would still be in class learning something that will help them get ahead in life.
i have heard a little about a program called "Early College". I guess this plan would be a little like that.
What do you all think of this?

 

I quit school.......twice.

Went back once and tried to make a go of it, and just wound up leaving again. I got my GED, and graduated with honors.

Some folks aren't cut out for traditional school? Maybe not. I think my situation was a little different.

But hey, I turned out pretty decent for a high school dropout!

 

T4T, a little harsh today? Sounds like this is personal for you...

I don't want my child to quit either. Won't let her not finish HS...one way or another. As for college? I know I shouldn't have gone straight out of HS. Twenty years, to the day, from when I graduated HS, I finished my 4-yr degree.

Should I have done it sooner? If I had the means, yes. Will it help me in my dream. Not really. Will I go back to 4-yrs of schooling for my dream? No. Will I go after my dream anyway? Sure am feelin' it lately.

Not everyone who succeeds, is happy, and is doing what they love went to college or finished college.

Listen to your childrens' heart sing and help them follow the song...no matter where it leads them!

Frogger

 

Actually mine is going to Wake Tech next year, then getting the college credits he needs. Then he wants to go to ECU.

I dont care what school, you are going. You cant make it in this world today without something behind you. I dont want him to have to labor like I have in the past, for hardly no money. How can you raise a family on 7.00 an hour? Trade school would be fine with me, if that is what he chooses.

I know what you or anyone else will say now. You know many people without college educations that made it just fine. I want to give him a head start like my parents did for me, my sister, and my 4 brothers. ALL of them went to college except me, I chose hair school. It was better than nothing and I made good for 18 years, no make that 19 years now.

A car, not here. Go out, get a J>O>B> and work it out like I did. I think children do not RESPECT the car if it is bought for them. POINT BLANK.
My son bought his black mustang, pays the insurance, pays his own nextel bill, gas, etc... He has a job at food lion.



THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS HIGH SCHOOL...right?

 

College is over rated for some... I know many people who went to school for English or Psychology and what are they doing... work as a teller at the bank or something way beyond what they went to college for. I am doing NOTHING of what I have gone to school for.

I say let your child follow their heart. Pushing a kid to do what YOU want is the easiest way to push them out the door and in the complete opposite direction YOU WANT them to go.

I'm living breathing proof of that.

As for the High School Diploma..GED thing. Well there is a program at JCC that is a HS Diploma instead of GED.

 

That is one of the options i was referring to in my earlier post - there are options out there other than traditional public school, including homeschooling.

 

Koo, I agree with you. They just have to do something. Trade school is fine. You want to be a mechanic, go to school and be a better one, you want to own a business, great! go get a business degree so you understand how it works, you want to play in a band, you better be really good and you still have to have a side job to support your family until you are famous.
I am all for following a child's heart. But you have to go to school.



Here is another thing I think about. I know I will probably be ridiculed for it so here goes.

I have boys, and they will become men, that have to support a family. Most of the time and not always the man is the "bread winner". Men get paid more money most of the time. If you want a nice house, big yard, nice cars/trucks etc... you are going to need a good education to bring you to the top. When the wife has babies, the men usually, not always, have to carry the household. If you want your wife to stay home, how will you do that?

BTW< mine wants to be an architect. GO, fly, BE FREE!!!!

And in a famous band.

My point is, most of the time the men are supporting a family. Duck and run:arrow::arrow:

 

See, that is what I am talking about. Home school them. If they get into trouble, help them earn a diploma. Good job Kaci.
Since it is home school if one works it can be done at night, right?
One just has to find the right answers instead of just telling the kids to quit.