 |
|
 |
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Kizzume
Site Admin
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 2832
Location: Tacoma, WA USA
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject: Public schools are becoming "dropout factories" |
 |
|
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ncl=1122854335&hl=en&topic=n
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/337358_dropout30.html
| Quote: | It's a nickname no principal could be proud of: "dropout factory," a high school where no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year.
That dubious distinction applies to more than one in 10 high schools across America, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who analyzed Education Department data for The Associated Press.
A handful of Washington's 290 high schools -- about 22 -- would be included on the list. Those 22 schools are spread throughout the state, but are found mostly in poor rural and urban school districts.
Every comprehensive high school in Tacoma made the list, but none in Seattle or Spokane. |
This is quite sad. Maybe if we focused less on standardized tests and more on teaching kids things that actually make a difference in their working lives and quality of life, maybe there'd be more that want to stick it out. Nope, it's about passing these tests so you can pass THESE tests so you can spend $50,000 or more to go to a college to study something they don't know if it's really what they want. Yep, great system :
| Quote: | | Seattle Public Schools, the state's largest district, didn't have any schools on the list. |
Well, that's nice. What are they doing differently?
| Quote: | One of the reasons that Seattle didn't have any high schools on the list could be that some have hired dropout-prevention specialists, who knock on parents' doors, talks to kids and work with law enforcement to combat truancy, said Ballard High School Principal Phil Brockman.
Several Seattle high schools also have special programs to reach out to families, such as Latino support programs at Ballard and Chief Sealth high schools and the black achievers programs at four schools. On-campus social workers are also key to keeping some of the neediest kids in school, he said.
"When you have dedicated staff ... that's where we see real progress," Brockman said. |
I would say that dedicated staff did it the most, not law enforcement getting involved.
Still though--we need to give kids a reason to stay in school other than so they can pass standardized tests so they can spend their parents' life savings and beyond to go to college.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Hackfest
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 413
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think I'll show my wife this post. Good stuff.
_________________
The Democratic Anthem: The American Dream is okay! Until you make $250,000. Then you're the devil.
I can always count on message boards to consistently shatter my faith in humanity.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kizzume
Site Admin
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 2832
Location: Tacoma, WA USA
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't know why more people aren't attacking the whole standardized test thing.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chuq
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 135
Location: Gulf South
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sounds more like the "successes " of the No Child Left Behind. (sarcasm intended)
_________________
'Politics' is made up of two words, 'poli,' which is Greek for 'many,' and 'tics,' which are blood-sucking insects.
- Gore Vidal
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum
|
| |
|
