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</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/TransformingHighSchools/RelatedInfo/SilentEpidemic.htm[/url]”>http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/TransformingHighSchools/RelatedInfo/SilentEpidemic.htm</a></p>
<p>we must invest in kids, as high drop out rates will create a problem as ameriacns will loose the competitive edge. This is a serious issue. Complex problem but with dire consequences. If these drop out kids becomes productive citizens by being plumbers, technicaians etc. it is not that bad … but it is not so.</p>
<p>No mention of substance abuse and addiction?</p>
<p>Other reasons for dropping out: Pregnancy (a big reason), incarceration, failing grades, “distractions” on the street, lack of role models.</p>
<p>In above statistics, how can 35% be failing and 88% have passing grades? It would have been a MUCH stronger study if the reseachers had correlated the self-reports with objective evidence from the schools, such as the students’ actual grades, suspension days, pregnancies (if reported) arrest records, etc. There is a reference in the report also about the lack of parental involvement.</p>
<p>This study shows once again that the problems are largely cultural in origin, and that the schools can design programs that interest students, but if there is little motivation due to outside forces, the programs will often be unsuccessful</p>
<p>These students need widespread community support, family support and community involvement, the schools cannot fix it all.</p>
<p>Also from the report:
"Young people in 25 big cities and small towns gave a variety of reasons for dropping out. The report concludes that students who leave school early exhibit clear warning signs, but school or parental intervention is rare:</p>
<pre><code>* Up to two-thirds of dropouts surveyed say they missed class often in the year before quitting high school.
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Less than half of all those surveyed knew a teacher or counselor with whom they felt comfortable discussing their personal problems.
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Only 20 percent say their parents were very involved in their schooling.
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Nearly 70 percent of dropouts said their parents became involved in their education only when they were on the verge of leaving school.
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Less than half said their school contacted their parents or themselves when they were absent or when they dropped out.
</code></pre>
<p>Link to Gates Foundation article about study:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/TransformingHighSchools/Announcements/Announce-060302.htm[/url]”>http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/TransformingHighSchools/Announcements/Announce-060302.htm</a></p>
<p>If these drop out kids becomes productive citizens by being plumbers, technicaians etc
The plumber I know- has a college degree- not that it is necessary but finishing your studies indicates an ability to follow instructions and complete a task.</p>
<p>At my daughter school- doors are locked when class starts and students have to go to the office- my high school also locked the doors, but we were let in if we knocked- also not all teachers locked doors.
I dropped out of school- I was probably typical in that my parents were not involved in what I was doing in school- whether I had done my homework or had any questions- what my grades were, or even what classes I was taking.</p>
<p>Education has to be a value- parents are needed to be involved from K-12, and middle and high school students appreciate adult involvement- just as much as elementary kids do.</p>
<p>Parents make special projects and trips possible in public school- I drove on a 3 day field trip at the beginning of my D sophmore year, I have also driven on other class trips & I really appreciate high school kids- I would encourage other parents to get involved, even if your kid isnt there anymore. The students really appreciate it, and some need all the positive adult contact they can get</p>
<p>Emerald, did you later go on to get a GED, and attend some college?</p>
<p>Ironically- my first live in boyfriend ( who was a drug dealer- * another career you don’t need a diploma for* ) encouraged me to get my GED- which I did easily without even studying.
Then once I had my oldest daughter- but was also in therapy- my therapist encouraged me to go back to school.
So I have about two years of classes at the community college- however- because of learning/focus issues I haven’t been able to complete the language requirement that would allow me to transfer to a 4 year school.</p>
<p>The 3rd quarter of each year, all of the creative kids in our school system miss days for
a) All State Chorus, Band and Orchestra
b) All County Band and Orchestra (you can do both)
c) All County Chorus
d) trips to National competitions
e) full day rehersals for the musical</p>
<p>My S just got an F in German because his German teacher demanded he choose between tutoring with her after school (the only time she would do the tutoring) or the play and an F. He chose the play since he’s interested in doing theatre in college, if he ever gets into a college!
All of the teachers act like the creative kids are responsible for the scheduling, and treat them badly. Since my S is already playing acoustic music as a job, I could see him dropping out. Luckily, he’s really social, so he’d miss the company.</p>
<p>debi lee: Some schools require a certain grade point average for participation in some EC activities, so there has to be a balance. I think lots of HS students are able to combine creative activities and do well academically. Sometimes it is too much for someone and s/he has to get the grades up before doing the other activities. Many schools are supportive of students doing both. There are generally minimium GPAs for sports, I don’t know about other ECs, but I would think that the academics take precedence in most cases in schools. Many parents, anyhow, would insist on the academics being up to par prior to making such a commitment to ECs.</p>
<p>Emeraldkity1: You are rather unusual to have made it through such diificult circumstances. It sounds from your other posts that you are a role model and inspiration for students in your catchment area. Most of the HS aged students that I have seen in similar circumstances tend to stay on the “other side”, and wind up with a life that is not as hopeful, perpetuating these problems into the next generation (after having their first children by age 16.) Then the 35 year old grandparents (usually grandmothers) step in to help if they are able to.</p>
<p>I will admit that at some schools it could be a power play between depts.
Particpating in creative classes can contribute to students staying in school. I was on a sport team- but not interested in it enough- or good enough to have that as a motivator- although for many students it is.
I would have loved to have taken an art class- anything- design- ceramics- drawing- but it never came up.
My older D was able to take two arts based classes a semester- usually a fine arts class and also music/drama. although this was a private school that had 7 classes a term.
My younger daughter is in public, but she also has been able to take both photography and art this year, which actually considering that they arent’ an “academic” class, require a lot of out of class time.</p>
<p>It is too bad that the teacher didn 't have any other suggestions so that he could have participated in the play and gotten help with class.
My D school also has lots of students participate in music/theatre and both the jazz band and the symphony orchestra regularly get national & international recognition- which gives strokes to the school and the district.</p>
<p>But they have a lot of other programs that take kids out of classes as well- the occ ed class goes to Africa about every year to help set up computers , the marine bio class just got back from Hawaii, and I was up till 1am last night waiting to pick up my D from a track meet.
Teachers really need to be flexible to serve their students well.</p>
<p>However, academics really need to be the first priority, in my opinion.</p>
<p>My father was a high school dropout. Left school to join the Army (Korean War was on). He took classes along the way in his 20 year army career. After retiring from the military at age 37, he enrolled full-time into college and graduated with a BS, MS and Ph.D. </p>
<p>I know, I know–not the typical story of a high school drop out, by any means. But don’t give up on those drop outs. Sometimes it takes a while, but they come around.</p>
<p>You are right. I don’t know if the armed forces require a HS diploma, but I do see it has been a way out of poverty for some of the HS students who are not that motivated, and have few immediate opportunities.</p>
<p>Also, some of the 16 year old mothers do eventually gain enough maturity and manage to get through HS or get a GED. It is just a tough road to follow. Not all cities and towns have supportive programs for teen mothers.</p>
<p>Anyway, this discussion is a far cry from the successes of the CC students!</p>
<p>After reading the posts here and elsewhere on the site, I realized not all schools were like ours. A good quarter of the kids who participated in All County, State, etc creative activities that took one out of school ended up with D’s or on academic probation because the teachers did not let them make up the work. So, it’s been suggested the Fine Arts department change the rules to “all work has to be done before the event”, and if the work is not given to the student, they get automatic A’s for that day.</p>
<p>one of my really good friends in high school dropped out. he was a straight A student in all AP courses. he was manic depressive and had the most unsupportive parent’s i’ve ever met in my life. they simply didn’t care. he would be having a hard time with things and they would make him sit down at the table and they would sit there and watch him until he finished all of his work. i remember one night his mom sat at the table and stared at him for four hours straight while he was doing his AP calc and AP economics work. apparently he was crying and everything and she didn’t say a word… just sat there silent till he finally got through all of the work. he eventually got sick of it and just dropped out senior year. his parents were less than pleased. He finished up his GED before he would of graduated anyway. the following year he asked me to get him a SAT registration form so he could take the SAT’s with me. I went to his house to drop it off and his mom asked me what it was. I told her it was an SAT form and she threw it in the trash and refused to give it to “her dropout”. I wound up meeting him at his job to give him his form. He wound up getting a 1490. He’s currently living in AZ and going to college… for something… i’m not really sure what, we haven’t talked in awhile.</p>
<p>ellemenope wrote “My father was a high school dropout. Left school to join the Army (Korean War was on). He took classes along the way in his 20 year army career. After retiring from the military at age 37, he enrolled full-time into college and graduated with a BS, MS and Ph.D.”</p>
<p>Wow that sounds a great feal like my Father-in-law-a HS dropout, joined the Army (end of WWII), got his GED, went to college-dropped out-worked for a year or so-went back to college BA, MA and then an EDD from NYU. He was a High School Administrator for more than 35 years! He could really relate to the kids because, in part, he had experienced their same feelings about HS.</p>