There are currently 20 states that already have 18 years old as an age for drop out of high school. They would probably prevent it from happening at all if the age of majority was 21 years old.
Some of the states are resistant to that change for a couple of reasons; overcrowding and funding.
..."I think (click here) legalizing the age to 18 before a student can drop out sends a strong message," said Assistant Superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools Keith Oswald.
However if the drop out age increased to 18 in Florida, it poses two big questions, over-crowding and how to pay for it....
Those two reasons raise questions about the willingness of states to take on the challenge of educating their children. The funding would be there if a young person stayed in school to graduation so that is a bit of an odd reason. If the state believes it takes additional resources for young people challenged to stay in school there is the question as to what services a high school provides for mentoring and tutoring. If tutoring was completed in classroom, like an old one room school house, the cost would be very minimal.
The second issue, overcrowding, clearly illustrates the real problem facing schools in the USA. The state of California is among the states with highest overcrowding rates.
…Students in overcrowded schools (click title to entry - thank you) pay less attention, achieve less, and experience more violence. Overcrowded schools are more likely to have inadequate or substandard electrical and lighting systems, safety features, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, floors and foundations….
In the illustration above a growing number of California school are taking on the 'calender' of year round school. There are problems in achieving the best outcomes of children in year round schools. This particular website attempts to take on the problems facing California schools to provide better educational opportunities.
The President in his American Jobs Act offered his own solutions to attempt to stem the inadequate facilities and teacher-student ratio. He proposed supporting the number of teachers in the classroom and reconstruction and renovation of schools currently under standard. Yet, those initiatives were obstructed by Republicans in passing The American Jobs Act.
The problem in educating our children WELL and in anticipation of the future and the current global competition requires investment, both, in returning teachers back to work and improving the very structures they are educated. So, the President had the best ideas to improve problems with overcrowding, but, once again obstructionists saw the reason of improving the lives of our students as a meaningless pursuit to improve and grow out economy.
Quite frankly, I admire the President's focus to take on the problem of children dropping out of school, but, there is unwillingness within our government to take the opportunity in a 'paid for' American Jobs Act to carry out some of the most important problems facing our educators and children.
1,000,000 students in multi-track, year-round schools
- Remain in large, overcrowded schools
- Can’t take courses that are offered only on particular tracks, including electives and advanced courses
- Have ill-timed vacations that make it hard for students to get ready for state tests and prepare their college applications
- Miss out on extracurricular activities, remedial and enrichment
programs
- Nearly 350,000 California students in 240 Concept 6 multi-track, year-round schools with fewer (but extended) school days
- Lose the equivalent of a full year of school days and nights for homework (over their 12 years in school)
- Are far more likely to have a teacher without a full credential
- Learn less
Why do I get the idea school districts are starved for monies to improve the circumstances of their students. The other reason there is such a down turn in the quality of the education of out children is due to the 2008 economic implosion. There are more homes in foreclosure, reducing the tax base of cities and counties causing drastic action in some districts to survive the ECONOMIC CRISIS, yet alone the education crisis.
There is nothing wrong with the learning capacity our children, but, there is a lot "W"rong with the esteem we hold the importance their teachers and classrooms.
The one way states can immediately prevent children from leaving school is to close the allowance of emancipation of minors. That is a small number of children, but, currently children as young as 14 can require a court to grant emancipation of their status. That is ridiculous. There needs to be a financial component required by all states before any minor should be emancipated.
(1) is at least 14 years of age;
(2) willingly wants to live away from home with the consent or acquiescence of his or her parents;
(3) can manage his or her own finances; and
(4) has a legitimate source of income.
The court must also be convinced that emancipation would not be contrary to the minor's "best interests."
Such a status is likely to be viewed as an option for children that want to leave school. Don't think for one minute children don't entertain these ideas, because, they do.
The President has opened discussion about requirements to maintain 18 year olds to graduation for specific reasons. Those reasons are best addressed when overcrowding of our schools and the removal of public employees from their jobs are scrutinized under a microscope.
