Comments on: Juneau Asks for Increase in Dropout Age
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By Mark W. on 01-26-13 @ 11:38 pm
I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that we caring adults consider it more important at this point in history for the law to reflect higher expectations for algebra than for mating. Even though lifelong
earning potential and general coping as a youngster would favor that the latter have greater legal
gravity. We’ll have a book of regulations over Sandy Hook as thick as an arm to save “just one
child.” But when it comes to other actions that can change a child’s life forever our expectations
reflected in the law are the equivalent of “eh, whatever.”
This is not going to end well.
By GATE on 01-26-13 @ 5:56 pm
George Washington, Andrew Jackson and Ab Lincoln never graduated from High School. Seems that they were socially balanced and turned out quite successful!
By Mark W. on 01-26-13 @ 5:05 pm
I don’t mean to short sell the public education system. They do the best they can. Of course any disinterested observer would note that they have a Marxist slant, but that’s something we live with.
However, what I see happening in the public education system nationwide seems to be a death-grip
like myopia. As our education rankings drop and our national tailspin continues, we tighten our grip
on the last things we think make us Good. In the educational system, this grip has evidenced
itself by an ascendancy of factors such as graduation numbers (doctored nationwide through
lowered standards), new schools, highly paid top-heavy administrations, and the like. This wouldn’t
be so troublesome if the student didn’t appear to be getting lost in the mix.
We hear from the schools constantly about outdated equipment or old textbooks. Maybe our
thinking about schools is outdated. Instead of continuing to tighten on our death grip on some of
the last vestiges of America’s Golden Age, perhaps we ought to loosen it, let it breathe, and find
ways to support non-Government involved alternatives.
By Mark W. on 01-26-13 @ 12:01 pm
“If we don’t have high expectations for them then who will?”
That’s the theory behind laws prohibiting abortion. But who cares if little Suzy gives birth at 15 as
long as progressives can pat themselves on the back for forcing everyone to spend two more years
bored to tears in class to make sure funding for their indoctrination centers doesn’t decrease.
By Fast on 01-25-13 @ 7:34 pm
Stop home schooling.
By Westside2 on 01-24-13 @ 10:41 pm
Research has proven that normal maturation and brain development continues well into the mid20’s. If we don’t have high expectations for them then who will? Not the parents of kids who
are contemplating dropping out.
By LogicalOne on 01-24-13 @ 11:54 am
If you can’t drop out of fourth grade by the time you are 16, you are too dumb to drop out at 18.
By thinker on 01-24-13 @ 11:04 am
Great idea! But why not pass a law requiring them to stay in school until they’re, say, 26? We’re setting the bar way too low here.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.