Straight Talk from a Hard-Working HS Dropout
There's been a lot of talk about the high school dropout "crisis" in America of late, with some scary statistics being thrown around: every 30 seconds a student drops out of school; more than a million do so each year. It's no secret that life outcomes are affected by the decision to drop-out - one study shows that college graduates will make a million dollars more over their lifetime than HS graduates, with non-HS completers earning even less.
Lost in this whole hulaboo (is that a word?) is an important reality: the students who drop out from high school are not just statistics. They are often times bright and hard working young Americans who want to succeed in life but just do not see how their school is set up to help them do that. I met one such student the other day, and here is the transcript of a e-mail back and forth I had with her a week ago. It's out responsibility to make sure that we do our best to meet the needs of students like Ashton from the earliest age -- because how we do so says everything about us all.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Our Photograph Will fade just like Our Summer Love
Date: May 25, 2006 10:37 AM
Hey i think its cool what your doing, and i would def. sign the petition. I am also just recently dropped out of High School my self.
Ashton
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Our Education
Date: May 25, 2006 9:51 AM
Hi Ashton! Thanks for your message. I'm glad to hear that you support the cause, and would be thilled if you sign the petition.
I'd be curious to learn a little more about you and your own background as I think your story might be an interesting one to feature on our website about why some students choose to drop out, what they wish schools would have provided them with instead, etc. If you're interested in chatting more just let me know - of course we understand if not!
best,
Aaron
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Our Photograph Will fade just like Our Summer Love
Date: May 30, 2006 9:54 PM
What would you like to know about me dropping out of school? I would be more then happy to tell you my story, just tell me what you would like to know and i would tell you it.
Ashton
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Our Education
Date: May 30, 2006 8:21 PM
Great! I'm so glad you're open to sharing your story and experiences. I guess the questions that we'd be most curious to hear about are:
1.) How old / what grade were you in when you dropped out?
2.) Why did you choose to drop out?
3.) What are you doing now instead of school?
4.) Are you glad that you made the decision you did?
5.) What would have had to be different about your school in order to make you want to stay? In other words, what would you change about schools in general to keep more students in school (or do you think it's a good thing that students are dropping out)?
thanks!
Aaron
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Ashton's responses:
1) I was 17/ and was in 11th grade
2)I choose to drop out because i would not have enough credits to graduate.
3)getting ready to get my GED, Then after that Terra Community College has classes to get a High School Diploma
4)Most days i am happy that i made it, but it just saddens me that i cant graduate with my peers.
5)Understand that all kids have problems understanding things, and that the teachers need to work with them, Another thing would be to have the teachers understand that some students dont have any exta money to go out and buy things for projects, and understand that alot of kids dont do good in school because they may have a bad home life, or something termendous is happening in there famliy.
Also, i think its very shitty of schools to drop after school activitys such as Art club, S.A.D., and Poetry Club, if the levie doesnt pass, but there going to keep Football, i think its riddiculous of them taking things that show your creativity away, and that will help you learn about things, just to keep football, that is a shame.