VOL. V, NO. 3
OCTOBER 18, 1963
Dropout Has No Future
One of the major problems concerning high school students and adults today is the school dropout. To help find the answers to this problem, much time and effort have been spent on studies of the students who drop out of high school and what happens to them. There are many reasons why students leave school before graduation. Usually a potential dropout can be recognized as early as grade school. He often has poor reading ability. A recent survey has shown that he has a lower I.Q. than the person who graduates from high school. A survey taken by the National Education Association about dropouts revealed that 39.6 per cent left school to go to work, 20 per cent disliked school, 9.4 per cent were failing courses, 4.6 per cent were needed at home, and 2.3 per cent had been expelled.
What opportunities await the dropout after he has made his decision to quit school? The lure of ready money and a sense of independence have confronted and over‑powered him. Statistics show that the average high school graduate earns from $30,000 to $100,000 more in his lifetime than the dropout.
We live in a world of increasing automation which has increased the necessity of skilled workers. Twenty-five years ago, with a strong back and a great amount of initiative and drive, the dropout could succeed in the world. This, however, is no longer true.
What opportunities await the dropout after he has made his decision to quit school? The lure of ready money and a sense of independence have confronted and over‑powered him. Statistics show that the average high school graduate earns from $30,000 to $100,000 more in his lifetime than the dropout.
We live in a world of increasing automation which has increased the necessity of skilled workers. Twenty-five years ago, with a strong back and a great amount of initiative and drive, the dropout could succeed in the world. This, however, is no longer true.
To quote Mr. Paul McKinnis, sophomore boys counselor, "The dropout of today is the person who will consistently be 'kicked down' tomorrow."
Those students not interested in finishing school, who are investigating street curb and center line painting as possible careers must be disillusioned. A high school diploma is needed by anyone applying for these jobs.
Teachers and counselors are constantly aware of the dropout problem and are continuously trying to find ways of preventing it. A high school with a narrow, inflexible curriculum has the highest dropout figure. To combat the problem, a good high school will include a diversified educational program and a varied list of elective courses to satisfy as many individual interests as possible.
The qualities which high school graduates possess are also those which a mature, successful person must possess.
Those students not interested in finishing school, who are investigating street curb and center line painting as possible careers must be disillusioned. A high school diploma is needed by anyone applying for these jobs.
Teachers and counselors are constantly aware of the dropout problem and are continuously trying to find ways of preventing it. A high school with a narrow, inflexible curriculum has the highest dropout figure. To combat the problem, a good high school will include a diversified educational program and a varied list of elective courses to satisfy as many individual interests as possible.
The qualities which high school graduates possess are also those which a mature, successful person must possess.