Lynch, dropouts, and homeschoolers

[KBCraig]

 

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NH_DROPOUT_RATE_NHOL-?SITE=NHMAL&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Sep 6, 5:15 PM EDT

Report says 1 in 5 children drop out of high school in N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- A new report says the state has reduced the high school dropout rate to about one in five children, but is still undercounting dropouts and failing to adequately track students who switch schools.

From 1999 to 2004, the dropout rate fell from 25 percent to 20 percent, "a significant change," according to the report released Wednesday by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies.

Gov. John Lynch said he was pleased with the state's progress, but would continue pushing for a law requiring teenagers to remain in school until they turn 18, instead of allowing them to drop out at 16. He also said he would advocate for more alternatives for children who do not succeed in traditional classes.

Lowering the high school dropout rate is critical to ensuring the state has an educated work force and young people can get decent jobs, he said.
   
"As a state, we can no longer afford to send the false message to our young people that they can succeed in life without high school diplomas," he said.

The study follows up on two reports issued in 2002 and 2004 that found the state was seriously undercounting dropouts. Despite progress, the state is still missing about 1,000 dropouts each year, mostly because school districts are unable to track students who leave one district and enroll in another, the report said.

The state Education Department will soon have a database that should go a long way to remedy the problem and help educators identify students who move away and don't enroll in school in the new district.

The report says the department should require school districts to report all enrollments and departures of high school students in real time and explain the reason for each student's departure.

The report also recommends that the department count expelled students as dropouts unless the district that expelled them can show they enrolled somewhere else or are being home-schooled.

"Students whose behavior results in expulsion should not be counted as a success of the school system," the report said.

It also recommends that the Legislature pass a law requiring parents of home-schooled children to report whether or not their children have met the minimum high school graduation requirements.

[aries]

I dont see why I, if I were homeschooling my children, would obey this requirement.

I don't see it passing but if it does.... it's pretty much insulting and requires some education that parents will moraly object to

[Dreepa]

I read this today.

Someone needs to write an LTE.... the drop age is 18!!!

(I would write the LTE but mine was in just a few days ago)

[FrankChodorov]

Someone needs to write an LTE.... the drop age is 18!!!

I thought the legislation to raise it from 16 to 18 was killed last session?

[aries]

Make no mistake people drop out even at age 14.

[Dreepa]

Someone needs to write an LTE.... the drop age is 18!!!

I thought the legislation to raise it from 16 to 18 was killed last session?

It was but.. it will be made a huge issue... it is 'for the children'

[tracysaboe]

Report says 1 in 5 children drop out of high school in N.H.

Good for them

Tracy

[Spencer]

Gov. John Lynch said he was pleased with the state's progress, but would continue pushing for a law requiring teenagers to remain in school until they turn 18, instead of allowing them to drop out at 16. He also said he would advocate for more alternatives for children who do not succeed in traditional classes.

Lowering the high school dropout rate is critical to ensuring the state has an educated work force and young people can get decent jobs, he said.
   
"As a state, we can no longer afford to send the false message to our young people that they can succeed in life without high school diplomas," he said.

Our children are, after all, merely resources -- the property of the state -- so I can see why it would be appropriate to require them to stay in school until 18.  But why stop there?  How about requiring everyone to stay in school until the age of 25?  After all, wouldn't Gov. Lynch's point be equally valid if tweaked a bit: "[W]e can no longer afford to send the false message to our young people that they can succeed in life without [Master's degrees]."

If having a high school diploma really does result in a person having a "decent job[]," then anyone who wants a decent job will get a high school diploma.  The Invisible Hand will ensure such a result.

[Money Dollars]

"As a state, we can no longer afford to send the false message to our young people that they can succeed in life without high school diplomas," he said.

You don't get a high school diploma from home school 

[KBCraig]

"As a state, we can no longer afford to send the false message to our young people that they can succeed in life without high school diplomas," he said.

You don't get a high school diploma from home school 

You certainly can. There are a number of private schools that offer exams and testing to issue diplomas. And there is always the GED, which is the route our oldest son chose as the quickest, cheapest, and easiest way to secure his diploma after being home-schooled.

Most universities and colleges don't require diplomas for matriculation (many high school students take college courses on the side). Higher ed is more concerned with SAT/ACT scores, and employers considering someone who has a college degree in hand are unlikely to quibble with the lack of a high school diploma.

Kevin

[Money Dollars]

You certainly can. There are a number of private schools that offer exams and testing to issue diplomas.

but that is a diploma from a private school, not the home school. I guess you could just make your own if you wanted. You can also just order one off the internet without any testing.....

And there is always the GED, which is the route our oldest son chose as the quickest, cheapest, and easiest way to secure his diploma after being home-schooled.

They issue high school diplomas after you pass that  ???
I thought it was something like a high school equivalency certificate.

[Lex]

I guess you could just make your own if you wanted.

Is that what you are going to do with your kids?

[aries]

I guess you could just make your own if you wanted.

Is that what you are going to do with your kids?

Print it out in Print Shop 

[dalebert]

...which is the route our oldest son chose as the quickest, cheapest, and easiest way to secure his diploma after being home-schooled.

Wow, Kevin. You're OLD!

[Pat K]

...which is the route our oldest son chose as the quickest, cheapest, and easiest way to secure his diploma after being home-schooled.

Wow, Kevin. You're OLD!

Some of us have made it to an older age youngster-some of us might not.