http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/01/the-road-to-opportunity-education-and-the-state-of-the-union/
On Tuesday, during President Obama’s fifth State of the Union address, he reinforced the message that education plays an important role in our country. The President began his speech by noting the critical part that educators play: “Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it, and did her part to lift America’s graduation rate to its highest level in more than three decades.” President Obama laid out his top priorities, rooted in three key principles: opportunity, action, and optimism. Among the education topics discussed, the President recommitted to making high-quality preschool available to every 4-year-old, connecting 99 percent of students to high-speed broadband over the next four years, redesigning high schools to offer more real-world education and hands-on training, and increasing college opportunity and success.
"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth'." (Dan Rather) The teacher can only do so much, if the student isn't willing. Initially a student must show some sort of drive or determination to succeed; for a teacher to water them as if they were a plant. "I mean you can lead a horse to the lake, but you can't force him to drink." America is filled with opprotunist some who don't value the vital impact of education on a child's mind. President Obama in his State of the Union address talked about the drop out rate of students. Wouldn't we solve this problem by raising the age to drop-out? Are students conscienece enough to make a life changing decision at the age of 16? When is the right age to set yourself up for failure by dropping out?
Kentucky passed a law earlier this year that increases the dropout age from 16 to 18 statewide, after 55 percent of the state’s 173 school districts signed on. Kentucky gave $10,000 in incentives to the first 96 districts that adopted the higher age policy. In his 2012 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama urged every state that hadn’t already done so to require students to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18. About a quarter of U.S. public school students never obtain a regular high school diploma.
“When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better,” the president said."The bottom line is, Michelle and I want every child to have the same chance this country gave us. But we know our opportunity agenda won’t be complete and too many young people entering the workforce today will see the American Dream as an empty promise unless we do more to make sure our economy honors the dignity of work, and hard work pays off for every single American."(Obama) I just want someone to put their foot down. Education is important so why don't we help our children in America succeed by not letting drop-out at 16. What will it take for us to control the whirl wind of problems America has? Why is it so hard for us to change laws? "Does America the home of the brave still fear change?"
I completely agree with you. The education system really does need reform. Personally, I'd rather ban the ability to drop out altogether or charge money for it. The video in class said something like $8700 per student spent. I'd just tell those kids, "okay, cough up $8700 plus a $500 processing fee. Oh, can't afford it? Guess you aren't dropping out..." I love your ending line 'does America...still fear change. It's catchy!
ReplyDeleteI like a lot of points Aalyah made in this post. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." If that isn't a truthful metaphor, I don't know what is.
ReplyDeleteMore than ever, kids think they can drop out of high school and still be successful. But the biggest problem, I think, is not the children. (Yes I know I'm a student, but hear me out on this one.) Our education system is fatally flawed. America's students are becoming less and less competitive with the students of other countries for a number of reasons. In today’s America, I am getting the impression that a high school diploma doesn’t mean anything anymore. You can’t start a decent career without at least two years of college, and teachers are passing students just so they won’t have to deal with snarky, lazy teenagers any more. For those thinking about dropping out, they might as well if they’re “not college bound.”
I read an article the other week--oh, how I wish I could find it again--about the measures parents in other countries take to raise their kids, and how much more successful those children seem to be. Among these measures were keeping children at home until the age of seven and giving them more frequent recess brakes when they entered school. This allows children to enjoy the fruits of their childhood and to explore themselves more before they start being influenced by worldly educational things. While seven might be a bit old, I do think that sending kids off to Pre-K at four is even harsher. My point is that school isn't for everyone, and certainly not at the same age. Some kids would benefit from the extra time at home, and others are ready to start the moment they can. This continues later in life, when students reach that age where they think they know everything, but by this time they probably do have an idea whether or not school is for them. Why are we wasting our time and money forcing students to go and learn when they don’t want to? We could be using those resources on those students who do have a desire to learn.
While we are prone to celebrate the fact that our four-year-old has decided to be a police officer when he/she grows up, I believe we should think twice before we pull out the party hats and confetti. Are they really able to make an educated decision at four years old? Is anyone even able to make a lasting decision at the age of twenty-four? Some would say yes, but most of us still have no idea what we’re doing with our lives. If we give students the extra time to decide they just might end up making better choices.