If you ask someone who has dropped out of high school why they did so, they will tell you.
The Statistics
Alison Kepner of The News Journal reports that dropouts are a problem in many states but Delaware has had a consistent graduation percentage below the national average. Only six out of 10 Delaware high schoolers will graduate by 2010. Dropouts are more likely to be
- unemployed
- in prison
- living in poverty
- receiving government assistance
- less healthy
- divorced
- single parents
When 500 dropouts, ages 16-25, were interviewed, they gave many reasons for leaving school:
- 47% said classes were not interesting
- 43% missed too many days to catch up
- 45% entered high school poorly prepared by their earlier schooling
- 69% said they were not motivated to work hard
- 35% said they were failing
- 32% said they left to get a job
- 25% left to become parents
- 22% left to take care of a relative
Two-thirds said they would have tried harder if more was expected from them.
Economic Implications
According to new U.S. Census data,
- a bachelor's degree earns an average of $51,554
- a high school diploma earns $28,645
- a high school dropout earns $19,169
Student Suggestions
Many students do not realize the seriousness of their decision to drop out of high school. It is only later in life they realize the poor choice they have made. What do students suggest to improve the current situation?
- better teachers
- offer more alternatives
- schools should offer real-life opportunities
- more help with learning problems
- tutoring
- more school counselors
- summer school
- more supervision
- more school-to-home communication
- better mentoring between students and teachers
What Is Working?
The schools that seem to be more successful are trying the following:
- evening classes
- more GED opportunities
- tutoring
- allowing students to return when older
The traditional high school format does not meet the needs of many students living in today's society. They need to see a relevance between what they are learning and the need in the world for the information.
Thomas Frey's view of education in the future could just eliminate dropouts, Future Look of Education. How tutoring affects IQ.
Related article: Punishment Doesn't Work
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
