Dropouts say their schools expected too little of them By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY A survey of high school dropouts offers a surprising view of why they don't finish school. It finds that more than six in 10 were earning C's or above when they dropped out, and nearly two-thirds say they would have worked harder if expectations had been higher. [
USAToday]
The article goes on to say the following:
For instance, 69% of dropouts say they weren't motivated, and another 47% say classes weren't interesting. That is simply another way for students to say that their basic skills weren't up to the task of high school-level work, Greene says. "Being in school seems like a big waste of your time because you don't understand what's going on. You can't understand the material that's being assigned to you."
Sorry to disagree with Mr. Greene, but I do. As one of those who could have said the same thing. I found school boring, so I did not bother trying. My parents intervened and sent me to private school where the classes were not only interesting, they were challenging. I was behind in some areas, but only because the basics had not been taught, rather than because I did not understand the material. In fact, I was expected to do things that I had not been asked of before. Where the answer had been good enough before, now I had to show the work, explain the conclusion and document everything. I also found a great lack of
structure. I am a self-starter, but that does not mean I do not like structure as well.
Now the study is hardly scientific. 600-odd people is hardly statistically significant...in fact, I would not even say it is a study, but it is a beginning that needs to be developed and continued.
A better question, though is asking, what are our children being taught and how are they being taught. In this day of standardized tests, one has to wonder if they are being taught any skills at all.
