Lawrence High School Dropout by Lacey Hunsinger / LJWorld.com

Archive for Sunday, November 8, 2009

By Lacey Hunsinger

November 8, 2009

Lawrence High has the highest dropout rate in the state of Kansas. Some people say that it is just normal for a liberal town. I disagree. There are a few factors that can affect the dropout rate. Ethics, length of school, and parent involvement in a student’s life can make all the difference.

In the days where dropping out of school was unheard of, the classroom was completely different from now. In those days, ethics was a large part of the teacher’s lessons. If someone was disrespectful to teachers or other students, they were disciplined for it. The basic life skills of respect, honestly and integrity were taught. Nowadays, students think cheating is OK as long as you don’t get caught. One isn’t required to put hard work into school because of cheating, so they take less pride in their work and therefore do not care about the quality of the job done or even if it is finished. This lack of motivation is a large part of the dropout rate problem.

The length of the school year is another major problem. Most of the student body’s parents remember the days where school was dismissed the weekend of Memorial Day and did not start until after Labor Day. The fact that students barely have a two-month summer break heavily factors into the dropout rate. Studies say that students loose much of what they learned over the summer. But without this break students become burnt out on school, which gives those more of a reason to drop out. As the urban population grows, the need for students to be out of school during the summer becomes more of a social need then a family necessity. Yet there are still a number of students who live on farms and are busy all summer working on these farms. Going back to school so early puts more of a strain on them and their families to get all the work that needs to be done completed by the time school starts. Many of these students are also active in 4-H and with school starting closer and closer to the fair, their thoughts of drop out become higher because they are simply needed at home.

And the last major cause of Lawrence High’s dropout rate is because of parental involvement, or the lack thereof, in a students life.

There are a number of reasons that can be the cause of Lawrence High’s higher dropout rate. If real life skills of ethics were emphasized more the dropout rate would surely drop. And if summer was longer to give students a true break, and if parents were an active part in a student’s life then I believe one would see a great change in Lawrence High School’s dropout rate.

Discussion

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8 November 2009
at 7:51 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Fourth all of these letters focus on mostly the same areas.

Academic boredom and not enough interesting academic approaches.

Could it be that laying off experienced teaching staff in NOT paying back our students?

Do students want to learn? I say absolutely.

What do they want to know once we get by reading,writing and arithmetic?

Do we have the facilities to teach what they want to know?

Should high school students be able to graduate knowing they are either prepared for college and/or prepared for a skilled position in todays job market? Absolutely! BUT are they receiving this type of education?
8 November 2009
at 9:38 a.m.

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geekin_topekan (Anonymous) says…

I believe, Merrill, that in the information age they are becoming more accustomed to cut and paste technology rather than employing their brains for research which means they learn nothing. Although the information is factual and true it still requires little to no effort and therefore they learn that they can achieve something for nothing.
Then they observe adults doing the same thing in the real world which validates the “something for nothing” attitude and they carry it on to other areas of their lives.
In short, Merrill you are setting a bad example and contribute to the something for nothing attitude with your constant and incessant cut and paste laziness.
Stop it, our youth demand and certainly deserve better.
8 November 2009
at 9:49 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Presenting facts as stated somehow is more substantial than unsubstantiated opinion.
8 November 2009
at 9:49 a.m.

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corduroypants (Anonymous) says…

“Some people say that it is just normal for a liberal town.”

Huh?
8 November 2009
at 9:50 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Meanwhile back to:

Fourth all of these letters focus on mostly the same areas.

Academic boredom and not enough interesting academic approaches.

Could it be that laying off experienced teaching staff in NOT paying back our students?

Do students want to learn? I say absolutely.

What do they want to know once we get by reading,writing and arithmetic?

Do we have the facilities to teach what they want to know?

Should high school students be able to graduate knowing they are either prepared for college and/or prepared for a skilled position in todays job market? Absolutely! BUT are they receiving this type of education?
8 November 2009
at 10:10 a.m.

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geekin_topekan (Anonymous) says…

Cut and paste does not prove expertise. How many LHS students may read this and look at your defense of incessant laziness as an honorable way of doing things?

I am not saying that your links are pointless or irrelevant. I am just saying that this is not the thread for them.
8 November 2009
at 10:11 a.m.

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lounger (Anonymous) says…

Maybe its because we teach our kids fantasy. Teach them real useful things and maybe they will remain Interested. Growing food, building Green. Not Money, money, money and then show them how the economy collapses because we dont have any Idea how to manage our natural resources. Id Drop out now too if I was being taught a load of Sh*t!

8 November 2009
at 3:18 p.m.

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Thing (Anonymous) says…

Lounger must have graduated from alf/elf High.
8 November 2009
at 4:09 p.m.

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Bronco7fan (Anonymous) says…

keeping the better teachers is a great idea. But It all starts at home…teachers ARE not parents..and parents if your kid is not doing the work he/she is suppose to well,believe it. dont blame the school for not teaching. things began going downhill with this no kid left behind came along..
8 November 2009
at 5:09 p.m.

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ksfbcoach (Anonymous) says…

Started long before NCLB…..started in the 60's and 70's. Remember that era? Check the statistics….that's when it all started. No respect for authority, do whatever you want despite the rules and it's OK, etc. Dropouts have increased ever since.
9 November 2009
at 8:17 a.m.

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Liberty_One (Anonymous) says…

I bet dropout rates would decrease if the parents were paying for the education out of pocket instead of it being subsidized by the state.