Archive for Sunday, November 8, 2009
High School Dropouts, by Morgan Mills
November 8, 2009
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From an outside view, dropping out of school can simply look like a selfish act. However, there are many more factors to consider when determining the source of the problem. A steadily increasing rate of dropouts is certainly not something to just write off, but to completely understand where these teens are coming from, one has to reflect on what exactly is pressuring them to leave school. Family or peer influence and example can hold major power in the decisions one makes about life. A lack of a significant second option for learning is another factor that can lead teens to leave school instead of trying to find an alternative. Failure to develop their motivation, work ethic, and confidence in academics can permit students to underestimate their complete potential.
If all important outside influences were preaching that school is a waste of time and effort would someone persevere and stay there? Having a high school diploma can often mean the difference between having a steady paycheck and relying on Welfare. No matter how much of an individual they claim to be, teenagers are, at their core, impressionable people. If all their friends put no effort into their work at school or plan on dropping out, they will be much more likely to do the same. The consequences down the road are not usually included in this decision; they probably are most concerned about losing friends by going against the grain. Family can play the same role in these student’s lives. The more successful one’s parents are, the more likely they are going to strive to achieve that success in their own life. Sometimes, the family will expect their child to stay on the same social level as them, claiming that doing better is disloyal. Outside pressure can play a significant role in the choices a young adult makes.
Another major factor in why dropouts occur is the apparent lack of an alternative way to learn. Some students just have a different way of retaining information, and if that is different than the norm, they cannot realistically reach their academic goals. This can leave students feeling isolated and frustrated. They may be incredibly smart, however this is not reflected in their grades, as homework assignments and tests may be difficult to complete. Frustration almost always leads to abandonment of the difficulty, and does not help one overcome it. If there were more uncomplicated options available and proposed to students thinking of leaving school, many would be persuaded to stay.
Schools need to start as early as they can to instill the idea that all work is important to your overall education and ultimate success. As we get older, every assignment seems more mundane than the last and we can begin to lose sight of why we are in those desks, why we have to learn seemingly unimportant subjects. High school students take for granted the simple right to be able to go to school. School is more of an annoyance, not a privilege we have to earn. Honestly, that is probably the main reason for the increased dropout rate. There are other factors that cannot be ignored, but for the most part, students are lazy. Motivation to go above and beyond is almost absent, at least in most of my classes at Lawrence High. Students often only go as far as they need to pass.
The high school dropout rate is a major issue facing our society today. Lack of motivation or work ethic can play a major role in many of these cases. However, dropping out can not only be attributed to laziness. An absence of an alternative means of learning also convinces many to quit school. Outside influence can also indirectly affect the decision to stay in school. Teens who drop out of school are essentially giving up on the idea of ever going beyond what they think they are capable of doing. It’s usually the easy way out, and I think the high schools need to be more understanding to the needs of individual students to find ways to prevent it.
More like this
- Lawrence High School Dropout by Lacey Hunsinger 11 comments / November 8, 2009
- LHS students offer teens’ view on dropout problem November 8, 2009
- DROPOUT RATE HIGH IN DISTRICT December 5, 1999
- Dropping out? Or giving up? By Sarah Hutchison 1 comment / November 8, 2009
- Something has been on my mind... By Jordan Payne 4 comments / November 8, 2009
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8 November 2009
at 7:59 a.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
Fifth politicians have removed 15-20 million jobs without replacing the jobs and/or their rates of pay. When are WE going to demand that this be fixed for the sake of our children?
The below kind of activity is screwing our children in a very very very big way.
The republican party are masters at putting millions upon millions upon millions of people out of work. All they do with a remarkable degree of consistency is wreck the economy,initiate huge movements of shipping jobs abroad aka the Reagan-Bush Global Economy and try to wreck social security and medicare.
Is there a definite pattern? Absolutely!
1. The Reagan/ Bush Home Loan Scandal
http://rationalrevolution0.tripod.com…
2. The Bush/Cheney Home Loan Scandal
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archiv…
3. What did Bush and Henry Paulson do with the bail out money?
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/10…
4. Why did GW Bush Lie About Social Security?( This would cost taxpayers $4 trillion and wreck the economy)
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archiv…
The democratic party must step up to the plate and focus on tons of future employment and forget bi partisanship. WE and our children do not have time for games and political rhetoric.
8 November 2009
at 8:16 a.m.
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LarryNative (Anonymous) says…
Merril, you won. Your party is leading the country. Why do you, and others in your party keep dwelling on the past? Bush is no longer president. Let it go. It is the past. All of your constant Bush bashing makes you seem crazy. Is it productive to point fingures and place blame? How about coming up with ideas on how to solve problems instead of acting like the little boy on the playground crying and pointing his finger and saying, “He did it.”
8 November 2009
at 8:19 a.m.
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ksfbcoach (Anonymous) says…
So even the Lawrence Schools dropout rate is because of Bush? Is this situation really political or something else altogether? If you're really reading the stories, and not just looking for an opportunity to push your agenda, you will see it is not. It's social. Society has failed. Hey…isn't that the realm that liberals Dems like yourself claim????
8 November 2009
at 9:38 a.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
Corruption should be dealth with in criminal court proceedings. It is not happening.
Graduates need jobs no matter what. Flipping burgers does not get it.
Where we have failed is not prosecuting white collar criminals who have destroyed the job market for OUR children.
AND parents NEED to become more vocal about what is happening in their schools or lack thereof.
8 November 2009
at 3:19 p.m.
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Thing (Anonymous) says…
Keating, please pull the plug on Merrill! I beg you!!!
8 November 2009
at 3:32 p.m.
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beobachter (Anonymous) says…
Based on this, can we ban thing?
#
8 November 2009
at 3:19 p.m.
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Anonymous
Thing (Anonymous) says…
Keating, please pull the plug on Merrill! I beg you!!!
#
8 November 2009
at 3:20 p.m.
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Anonymous
Thing (Anonymous) says…
Once again, the Fuhrer of cut and paste has attacked!
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8 November 2009
at 3:16 p.m.
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Anonymous
Thing (Anonymous) says…
If Merrill got his education here, that explains a lot now doesn't it?
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8 November 2009
at 3:15 p.m.
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Anonymous
Thing (Anonymous) says…
rfragon, the best course of action is to simply ignore Merrill's continuous ramblings and repeated cut and paste jobs. When is Keating going to cut this guy off? No one, not even the other liberals reads his garbage anymore.
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8 November 2009
at 3:13 p.m.
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Anonymous
Thing (Anonymous) says…
Unfortunately it was followed by the king of cut and paste!
8 November 2009
at 8:45 p.m.
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JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
Can school be anymore mind numbing then it is now? You expect kids, many who have creativity to sit through the corporate style of education that emphasis being on time to class more than creativity. Sports indoctrination only makes it worse, the worth ones are those who play sports and get away with it all.