Should the Dropout Age Be Raised?
By DANIEL E. SLOTNIK
Student Opinion | Do you think that students across the country should be required to attend school until they turn 18?
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/should-the-dropout-age-be-raised/?nl=learning&emc=learninga3
I think the government should raise the academic dropout age to 18 primarily because it gives kids the incentive to prevail through school. Generally, when we are tasked with a difficult problem, we ignore it until it catches up to us; this trains students for a valuable life lesson. Furthermore, it is legally wrong to allow a student to dropout of high school at 16. A person is still considered a child when they are 16 whereas when they are 18, they are legal adults, giving them the right to choose the path of their life. We are still teenagers at 16, with a less mature mind that an 18 year old, and we tend to make rash decisions that affects our lives significantly in the future. When I was 16, I didn't care about school, I was a sophomore and at the time, I would've dropped out, thinking that working at McDonald's would be sufficient. Now, I have a completely different approach on school because I have become more culturally aware of the positive benefits. It takes some people longer to mature and increasing the age of dropping out with give more time. Moreover, America is also big on everything, literally. We are ranked number one in almost everything from military to national debt besides education. Compared to China, our educational morals are blasphemy mainly because they push their students. In America, we have certain liberties and freedoms that we can do without, allowing 16 year old students to dropout of school is one. Honestly, I've had the dream of dropping out of school. I dreamed of escaping to a distant land for the rest of my life to never return. Luckily, I prevail passed this fantasy and understood the proper path. We, Americans, are given too many leniencys that we exercise daily. Raising the dropout age can at least giving them ALL of high school to make a final decision because college is not required.
ReplyDelete` For me it's quite difficult but I don't really know how to answer this question. But for an odd reason, I believe that Obama shouldn't do that. I think that some people (teens/students) need to learn things the hard way to get things through their minds. I believe that education and your ability to pursue a dream or goal is your motivation, to encourage you to learn more and be very efficient. Think of it this way, if students that don't want to learn drop-out of high school, then there will be more focus on the students that want the maximum potential education. There wouldn't be any distraction. With this, it can result to higher test scores and more opportunity to those students who are serious about their education. Which can get them to the next step of their career. If you keep those students that want to drop-out, it's going to effect other students. They can become a great distraction and might hurt the school. For example, those students that want to drop-out might purposely fail class(es) until they are eighteen just to leave the school. That wouldn't be benefiting the school or the students in any type of way. Although, for an alternative, I commend that they have schools for those drop-outs who have seen their wrong deed and want to enroll back to school. People need to have the passion to learn, to be able to have the sufficient positive mind in which can turn to a reason for enrolling school. Then it would be towards a very good use for their future. In my train of thought, high school is when you make all the mistakes and learn from them, because the real world is harsh and it won't be as merciful as it is in school. So that's why I say to keep the drop-out age.
ReplyDeleteLet me just put the truth out there: The American educational system is a joke, and is continuing to go down in a nose dive. Our nation's ever-increasing dropout rate is directly linked to things such as poverty, homelessness, and ending up in jail. What the federal government [not just the states] needs to do is impose serious educational reform, and raising the dropout age is a start. Teens today sometimes drop out because they feel they're not good enough to graduate. These kids usually just need an extra push to encourage them to finish school, and maybe even go on to college. Some students just drop out because they know it is an option. Perhaps if the choice wasn't given to them, these students would try to solve whatever problems they're having in school rather than just quit. Which brings me to my next point: allowing naive 16-year-olds to drop out of school, a very important part of their futures, is basically saying that it is ok to quit. Students should be discouraged from just taking the easy way out. In the real world, that won't get you anywhere. These days, even McDonald's won't give you a job unless you have a high school diploma. As far as they, and any other employers, are concerned, you are nothing without that sheepskin. It is a sign that you can commit to something and see it through, even as a scatter-brained teenager. I believe that is also something that should be promoted to help keep kids in school. But until we can get that kind of encouragement, the school dropout age should definitely be raised.
ReplyDeleteThe dropout age should pretty much be reaised to 18. 18 is the age where everyone is considered to be an adult. So, 18 should be the age where a student can make decisions to drop out or not. Most teenagers are too immature at 16 to understand the cons of dropping out. A lot of people mess up at 16, so it's noyl fair that they get a second chance at doing better around 17 and 18. We're living in a time now where a high school diploma can barely get you a job, versus where a few decades ago, anyone could make it without one. Some might say that raising the dropout age is only prolouging what's to come, but think about it as this; By raising it, you're giving students more time to think about the pros and cons of not getting a high schol diploma. At one point in time, the U.S. was ranked number one for their schooling. However, we are now reduced to a simple ranking of 17. Personally, I find the school system corrupted and stupid. By raising the dropout age to 18, then this could be the start of making our school systems less stupid. Dropping out is just an excuse for students to quit. We need to reform the school system and encourage students that it's not ok to just give up when things in life become hard. The high school diploma shows that you can actually complete a set amount of challanges. Of course, many people don't think of this at the immature age of 16, where our brains are nowhere near being fully developed.
ReplyDeleteI think that the dropout rate should be raised to 18 because many jobs out in the world require at least a high-school diploma. If students drop out at 16, what are they going to do with their life? Joining the army is an option but many people would not prefer this. There needs to be a completely valid reason as to why students need to drop out at 16. Other than that there should be no excuse to just drop out. By the time the average student is 16, they are either a sophomore/junior. There will only be 1-2 more years left of high school, so the student could at least stick around for the last few years. Students at the age of 16 are considered too immature to make wise decisions and usually regret their bad decision. They do not think or act the same way 18 year olds do. They may not find the same things funny or make the same bad decisions they made when they were 16. By the time a student is 18, they may realize that they actually do want to go to college. If the dropout rates stay at 16, then the student may decide to get their GED and actually do something with their life. However, I think getting your GED is like taking extra unnecessary steps to getting something you had right at your fingertips. The student is so close to finishing high school. They should not be allowed to just quit in the middle of their high school career unless there is a horrible tragedy. Even if they do not attend college, they should at least finish high school so they can get a good enough job.
ReplyDeleteWhen a student reaches the age of 18 their considered an adult so students across the country should be required to attend school until they turn 18. Their still children and don't have a say in whether or not they want to go to school. “Efforts to raise the age usually come up against the argument that requiring students to stay in school when they no longer want to be there is disruptive to other students and not fair to the teacher,” said Sunny Deye. If this becomes the case, we should have special schools for those students who plan to drop out. Those who want to learn could attend class without disruptions and focus much better. If students continue to cause problems they could be put into the army. This will discipline them and get it back in their head that school is what they need to succeed in life. After months of training they could either return to school or continue serving in the army. Just like Uchenna, i had thoughts about taking a break because i couldn't seem to understand why i was going down hill but i saw the benefits in staying and now im trying to get back on track.
ReplyDeleteYes I believe it should be because it would enable the high school students to stay in school till at least senior year so they could finish school and be able to have a better life. Over the years, hundreds of teenagers have dropped out of high school for reasons from having to work to support their families to just dropping out because their parents allow them to. Students would still be getting basically a full high school education because most students wouldn't drop out their senior year. Since the majority of high school students’ work, many students when they reach the age of 16 think they can just drop out of school and work at their same job and gradually receive higher paying jobs at the same place. Fewer people would have to rely on minimum wage jobs to supply them with enough money for their families. Along with the fact that some young teenagers have to work to help support their parents, siblings, etc, some students have their own kids to take care of, which is why co-op was created. Students could still work for half the day and come to school for the rest, young parents would still be able to get a full high school diploma and save money for their families. In the long run, a high school diploma can help high school parents to support their kids, parents, or siblings. Our economy is beginning to require it in order to live a somewhat happy and successful life. If students are in need to work, they can register into co-op and work half the day, but still be in school. All in all, our generation is a lot different than those before. We cannot drop out of school at 16 and become as successful as our grandparents or parents could; too much is changing and advancing in our world to not have at least a high school diploma.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I thought that was the policy for students to be in school till 18 since that's the age most students graduate. But I would say yes because, as Shaun said, that is the age students are considereed adults and can make their own decisions. When they drop out at 16, they have no where to go and they can not make as much important, life changing decisions for their life yet. They'll still need their parent's signatures and etc. At 18, you're able to sign off on things and do whatever you want except, of course, drink alcohol. If they make it a policy for students to stay in school till they're 18, at least every student will have a high school diploma so of they do decide to drop out and they need a job, they'll be able to get one probably at some fast food restrurant like McDonald's. It makes a lot of sense to make sure they stay in school till 18 because it will help them out even though most of them don't know that they need the help.
ReplyDeleteIf by age 16, a junior in high school, students cant grasp the importance of furthering their education,then there's no need for them to waste their time in school. Last i checked, the most popular age for a student to initiate a working experience is 16. If teenagers can get a job and somehow manage it, why cant they attend school regularly and receive a proper education? the answer to this question should express much about how determined a student really is. The idea of raising the dropout age from 16 to 18 will only result in unnecessary disaster for both students and teachers. The current dropout rate will not be improve by much even if students have to wait until they are eighteen; the process will only be prolonged. I do understand that there is a possibility that if you make a student remain in school for the required years, that they might come to a slight realization of why their education is important. But if its too late? what if that same teenager refuses to come to that understanding? Its impossible to think that you can hold someone's hand forever. If a person refuses to conclude for themselves the consequences of their actions, then there isn't much that can be done to save their future. You save them now. You do your part by holding their hands now, but when you let go, then what happens? Its basically the idea that forcing them through high school will do nothing to benefit, or even prepare them for the next step, college.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of difficult to answer this, as 18 is the age when most students graduate from their respective schools, or may already be out of high school altogether. So to have the dropout age increased seems pretty pointless in that case. 16 is actually a decent dropout age-sure, you may not be at the age where you have to make choices for yourself, but you are old enough to have a common sense, and to make choices that could potentially shape your future. Also, by age 16 students are more likely to be in their Junior year, which some people consider to be the most important, as colleges tend to look at your progress for that year the most. Also, if students feel the need to dropout for whatever reason (classes and work can be overwhelming) then they should be given the freedom to do whatever they want concerning their academic lives. However, there are alternatives to dropping out if students can't get work done (talking with their teachers is a start.). In the end, the students are the ones who choose their fate, not their parents and/or teachers.
ReplyDeleteThe age should be raised up until 18. There a lot of students who drop out way before that. But 18 should be the age because then they are an adult they make their own decision. Why force an adult to stay in school if they don't want to. Plus when people don't want to be there they don't care and that would have a bad effect on others. If they don't care about their own education they definitely dont care about others. Raising the age is smart. Jobs want someone who at least graduated high school. To tell the truth its hard for even college graduates to get a job so to not have a high school diploma...isnt really good. Statistically 9th-10th graders usually drop out that's way too young. The government should step in and change this up. No person under 18 should be dropping out. -B. Malone
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the age for dropouts should be raised. The reason I think this is because no one should be forced to stay in school. For example, you get to choose wither our not you want to go to college. You should have the same right to decide if you want to go to or continuer school. It is you're future and you are incontrol of what path you wish to go down. It is true that having an high school education is valuable, but it should be up to the individual to decide it's value for themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is very exceptional that the dropout age be raised to 18 years old. Complimentary to what Phalasade shared, most large, profitable companies require a high school diploma, and/ or GED in order to work. At 18, one becomes a legal adult, and can apply for many things without a parent, or guardian. The advantage of this is, after high school is over, it will be much easier to have less restrictions on life. One will no longer be the responsibilty of their parent, and if they should get into any kind of trouble, it will not impact their family, or any one who cares for them. With responsible precautions, the dropout age should be 18, as it shows people at that age different means of responsibility and carefulness to the things they do. Compared to a 16 year old, who can drop out of school, rob a bank, and only serve 2-3 years maximum in juvenile detention, an 18 year old will be tried for prison automatically. A 16 year old will be defended by their high school and family, then given a second opportunity to start over, and an 18 year old must learn to deal with legal consequences of their unlawful crime.
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