High School Dropout Rates
Natalie Fair-Albright
I've started the petition "Ohio Governor and Ohio State House and Ohio State Senate: A proposal that the legal age to dropout be raised to 18 years old or graduation, whichever comes first." and need your help to get it off the ground.
Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link:
Here's why it's important:
Our economy and ability to provide jobs to our residents is linked to the national and global markets. If we do not have an educated workforce, we will fall futher and further behind. Already, the US ranks 24th in the world for education.
The reality has also changed since the age was set at 16 years old so many years ago. Jobs that do NOT require at least a High School Diploma or GED are almost non-existent, so what are these young dropouts going to do? Many turn to crime to support themselves or become a burden on an already stretched system. It doesn't have to be that way. Let's give them a real chance at a productive life.
I understand that not all children are or should be college bound but that is not a reason for dropping out of High School. More vocational education opportunites need to made available; negotiate with the trade unions to create junior apprenticeships that do not require a High School Diploma but that help the student get their Diploma while learning a trade. Internships should be used more. JobCorp could be expanded especially as a residential option (not everyone has a home life conducive to learning); mandatory education in juvenile facilties; grants could be developed for the arts schools to be expanded to teach students that are talented (not just the art but also the business behind the art); the same could be done with students who are athletic (not just to be a player but coaches, sports therapy, managers, etc); more access to early completion for gifted students (many dropouts are intelligent but bored). More schools should have in house daycare for the children of the students. Bootcamp style boarding schools could be created for some students. These are just a few ways to help the young people complete at least a High School education. Testing to help a student determine what they may be good at or suggest potential occupations should be done several times and guidance counseling needs to be supported and professionalized.
Waivers could be given for some disabilties.
At present, the city I live in does not even ask or track "WHY?" students dropout. Any young person who stops coming to school should have a social worker knocking on their door, who asks the student and asks the parents why they are not in school. The answers may surprise. Or an effort needs to be made to find the child and family. Any person under the age of 18 out on the street needs to be questioned along with the parents as to why they are not in school.
I have seen some dropouts go on to complete a GED but most do not. I have seen young people pulled into drugs (using and selling), prostitution, crime. Sometimes, the students come from families that do not or cannot provide an environment that encourages learning. What happens when the dropouts who can hardly make a living for themselves have families of their own? Are we creating a cycle or perpetual poverty? The dropout rate cannot be blamed on teachers and administrators; it is a social problem.
Classes should be included in the curriculum of ALL schools in the State of Ohio which can help address some of the social issues. Programs to teach children K-12 philosophy to teach thinking skills should be utilized, Southern Poverty Law Center has a materials for Teaching Tolerance, non-religious meditation and yoga should be taught to cope with student stressors, we need to actually teach the entire Civil Rights Bill and thoughts behind its creation, non-video board games and cards to teach how to interact with each other. the arts and exercise are VERY important to the development of children. Food should be grown, provided, taught to all students. Life Skills that teach basic banking, cooking, laundry and cleaning, auto repairs, home repairs, first aid, CPR and how to recognize and treat a variety of common medical issues should be an important part of every young person's education. Educational opportunites for students to learn in other countries should be expanded so they can experience how other people live. The school day may need to be expanded to accomplish all of this OR should we consider having year round school as exists in some other countries.
I have worked with, spoken with and gotten to know too many young people who dropped out. I have seen the social problems first-hand. Too often I have met students coming from "third world" countries to Ohio, who have had a superior education. This is not the way it should be.
Please change the dropout age to 18 and give our young people a chance.
You can sign my petition by clicking here.
Thanks!
Natalie Fair-Albright