Chapter 8: The Facts About High School Graduation Rates (8/34) – High school dropouts are at an all-time low. High school graduation are at an all-time high. ****************************** If we really want to make a difference, we would take action to strengthen families and communities by reducing poverty, racial segregation, and recognizing the good work that so many principals, teachers, parents, youth counselors, school psychologists, and social works have done over the years. ******************* • Headlines about the high school graduation “crisis” refer to the apparent long-term stagnation of the four-year-college graduation rate. At 89 percent, The United States had a higher graduation rate in 2009 than the average for the OECD nations. • The more we concentrate on raising the graduation rate instead of raising the quality of education, we will more likely graduate high school students who are not well prepared for work, college, or being a good citizen. • “What discouraged students need most, is an education that promotes students’ motivation, perseverance, and self-esteem. They need an education that develops their academic and vocational interests. Most job openings in the near future won’t require post-secondary education.” - Russell W. Rumberger, author, California Dropout Research Project • To stay in school, students need support and encouragement, and course that will prepare them for the job market. Reducing the dropout rate would require desegregating schools because concentrated racial segregation and poverty contribute to dropping out. ******************* We could certainly do better, but we should not despair. We have made progress and will continue to make more progress if we persist and have realistic grasp of the problems. barnesandnoble/w/reign-of-error-diane-ravitch/1114975619?ean=9780385350884he
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:36:50 +0000