Comments on: 1.23 million dropouts

By: Vincent Baxter

Vincent Baxter — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Dear Bill and Melinda:
HOW MANY is easy. WHY are they dropping out? (“Because they’re not enrolled in a Gates Foundation funded school” doesn’t count as an answer.)

By: Skip Olsen

Skip Olsen — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I see this as a partial and significant answer to your question to your May 21 post: So what if schools don’t prepare kids for the 21st century? I can’t find the words to tell you how irresponsible and disgusting this is. I continue to wonder where our collective anger, intelligence, creativity and courage are.

As usual, Scott, thanks for the post and another shot across the bow.

By: Scott McLeod

Scott McLeod — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

@Vincent: I think we know why. The research I’ve read says that the vast majority of students who drop out do so not because of academic reasons but because they are bored / disengaged / struggle to find meaning or relevance or connection with their school(work). The challenge is what to do about that, of course, but I think we’re going to see more of it, not less, as our students who have access to the entire world now look at their schools and wonder why they’re not more meaningful / relevant / connected to the future / rest of society.

Okay, that was WAY too many slashes (/s?) for one comment!

By: Tina K.

Tina K. — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Students who drop out do so not because of academic reasons but because they are bored / disengaged / struggle to find meaning or relevance or connection with their school(work). I do not see this as the only reason. Experience working with High School students tells me those who drop out do so not because of academic reasons but because they are bored / disengaged / struggle to find meaning or relevance or connection with their lives. Now let the discussion begin.