YakShaving

Apparently, 1 in 10 high schools is a ‘dropout factory’. Say what? from the article:

WASHINGTON - 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 description fits more than one in 10 high schools across America….

…said teachers had low expectations for students, which led to dull classes. “They were teaching me stuff I already knew … basic nouns, simple adjectives.”

Singletary said a subject she loved was science but she wasn’t offered it, and complaints to administrators went unanswered. “I was interested in experiments,” she said. “I didn’t have science in ninth or 10th grade.”

…..“The kids are just starved for recognition and attention. Little social rewards matter to them,” said Balfanz.

Balfanz says, however, that students understand the biggest reward they can collect is the piece of paper handed to them on graduation day.

Without it, “there’s not much work for you anymore,” he said. “There’s no way out of the cycle of poverty if you don’t have a high school diploma.”

The article raises a few important issues:

kids who are looking for a challenge and to learn are NOT learning anything new

kids interests are not nurtured and encouraged

kids are starved for peer/social validation

Solution? Coming soon, we hope.