Would You Let Your Child Dropout of School?

[Knotical]

Completely drop out of schooling altogether? No. But, if they are not learning anything useful in the institution at which they are attending then I would be all for leaving that place and finding another avenue of learning.

Some of you know we homeschool. When our kids get to high school age we will be looking at dual enrollment where they start taking courses at a local junior college while doing their high school work. After that it will be up to them, depending on their chosen profession, as to whether or not they will go to a normal four-year college/university, a technical school, or simply get a job. Of course we will suggest some sort of continuing education, but do not see any benefit in attending a school when there is no clear goal in mind (valuable degree).

 

[Tessa]

Jacob ,I do know of.there should be more. Use find a grave.jacob was Russian

Quite a few for Cranman. Can't find Jacob

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Completely drop out of schooling altogether? No. But, if they are not learning anything useful in the institution at which they are attending then I would be all for leaving that place and finding another avenue of learning.

Some of you know we homeschool. When our kids get to high school age we will be looking at dual enrollment where they start taking courses at a local junior college while doing their high school work. After that it will be up to them, depending on their chosen profession, as to whether or not they will go to a normal four-year college/university, a technical school, or simply get a job. Of course we will suggest some sort of continuing education, but do not see any benefit in attending a school when there is no clear goal in mind (valuable degree).

I think if I would have been homeschooled I would have enjoyed it more. Except that I wouldn't have met Joey then. But getting up early in the morning sucks which is probably part of the reason I have my attitude about it. I have mentioned this before but I'm a night owl not an early bird.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Oh and by the way, I get up when it's something that I really want to do like going on vacation or going to see Joey etc. I just wouldn't want to get up early for something I hardly had any interest in doing.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

But yes, I have to get up pretty early to go see Joey and even though not as early to go on vacations as well. I will also get up to go to church, let any future dogs out or take care of any future babies. The point is though those are all good reasons to get up in the morning and see the sun rise.

 

[jasonc]

https://www.covb.org/DocumentCenter...es-Survey-of-Vero-Beach-FL---1990-PDF-?bidId=

Tessa. the list of homes is what I will use to verify style and ages of home . I haVe already verified one. some of them are gone. I know the addresses from work and from routes. sad, one such listing is on 33rd street. that is a slum for vagrants now, not much that are left. a few others, the history of my state, to the county and present of the time will be interesting to you. I will re touch that subject, it lists eras and names.

built in 1925. the awnings it had originally I can post from a govt file photo on the county tax page. this is why I get into and why I focus on local history as all these go back to pre ww2 and the depression and were paid for before being built! try that today, aint happening.probably a wealthy home that cost may 20 grand to build with lot. sexton or mckee probably sold it. the promixity the golf course is the reason I say why.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

There are several things that school does for a person that make me hesitant to let them drop out. But on the other hand, if the school is causing more harm then good, seeking other answers like other schools or something else might be nessassary. The other think is that sometimes it's not up to the parents if their kid is going to leave school and drop out on their own,

School has three things that I value and would want for my kids.

1) An education. It's likely that this is something I won't be able to provide on my own because of having to work, nor is it something that I might be able to afford to help them with after high school. College even trade schools are expensive, and it's to expensive to get a well rounded education instead of a job training path of education. So I value public education because it's something I'm glad to give my kids (if we ever are lucky to have any).

The down side to public education is that there are things in there that you need to teach your kids about. To correct or to teach more about. But over all I'm glad there's a public system to teach reading, writing, math, and too many other subjects to name just so they are exposed to the subjects and can know about them on their own or have the oppurtunity to excel at them.

2). The second aspect I am happy for is the social element of school. Though I hate bullying, school is a great way to develop social skills and even meet people you can be friends with for years to come or even life time friends. Knowing how to handle bullies and most other nastiness helps later in life too. To walk away, or to deal with a bad supervisor, or even to know to look for another job because of treatment in it from your supervisor or your coworkers. These are things that I think good social skills help instill in people.

3). Third reason is life skills. Along with having social skills and an education for specific sets of skills from math class or shop class, there's also the skills to study, to work hard, and to do things you don't like because it's part of life. (Expecially in the work force).

If school isn't meeting one or more of those three reasons to value it, then that's a red flag to me, but the solution might be to try to homeschool, or try another school. Personally it would take a lot for me to let my kids drop out. I just think school in some form or another is good for us.

 

[Hermit]

Education is so important to one's wellbeing. With a good solid education one can make better judgments, see other possibilities, more options, and most imporatntly access to larger degree of resources. Such as better qualifications, jobs, pay, transport, food, shelter, and medical.

If the child is legally allowed to leave school and they want to leave, then let them. But make it clear that when they do leave school they are to get a job and start learning to live independently. Also, that they can always return to school if they wish better access to resources. In that case, they are to do so independently too. This is what I had to do. It is possible to re-educate, to gain access to university, and gain the degree that most good jobs require.

Recently I met a very intelligent woman without good education. She left school too early. She is very quick witted and surprisingly good common sense. But she lacked understanding facts and figures, misunderstood lots information necessary for making better choices. However, the real sad thing was she would not believe that she could re-educate.

 

[Knotical]

A quick case in point as to why it is always good to keep learning. My wife always hated history growing up through grade school. But now that she is teaching our kids she is extremely interested, especially how many historical events tie into the bible, and how you can use the bible to refute certain claims. One such claim she came across is an account of how the pyramids were built. There was mention that the wheel had not been invented yet, therefore, they had to use sleds to move the large bricks and stones. This is proven to be false just be reading the account of Joseph, which is the first account of someone using a chariot.

Unless I am completely mistaken on the design of those things they have what we would consider a basic wheel design.

 

[MustangGirl]

None of my kids "graduated" from high school. One of them is finishing her second degree, one has a semester or so to finish a bachelor's degree, one is a journeyman electrician who's considering going back for an electrical engineering degree. Typical teaching methods did not work with them. School didn't work for them. They haven't suffered for the lack of a high school diploma.

 

[Knotical]

My youngest brother struggled all throughout grade school and high school. He eventually dropped out of high school and went to take his GED. He passed with flying colors, to the point where he went and also took a high school equivalency test, and passed that as well.

He is one of those rare people that just does not do well in "traditional" school environments. He is a very smart guy, just don't put him in a normal class room.

 

[lisa-in-FL]

First I agree with Tessa on everything and second glad to hear you like science. I think a lot of people out there think Christians must be anti science if they don't believe in evolution. But that's silly. You know plants need sunlight because you can put one in a dark box and see what happens. Evolution is a theory that can't be proved.

I must say that English and science were actually my favorite subjects because even though with the nicer weather and I go outside a lot more during the summer,.. I really like writing stories and I absolutely love to read! But yes, I still enjoy science even though I'm a Christian, I think that it's neat.

 

[Razeontherock]

I assume you are speaking of voting. Anyways maybe I will someday but I watch the news. And again, I repeat, I'm not saying that I'm bored by all history. I read the Bible and I really like dinosaurs. I'm just more of a natural history person than an American history person but even some of that interests me.

A general education (HS diploma) is designed to give you a background that will help you learn how to do anything, regardless what you might pursue later in life.

Some pursuits definitely require more education, but the idea is that you're prepared for it.

For some people this doesn't work so well. Some people do better in a different situation; homeschooling is one example of that, but it should result in a HS diploma.

The trend is for it to be increasingly difficult to get hired for any sort of job at all without at least a HS diploma, but right now the labor shortage creates an exception.

I doubt that becomes a trend

 

[MustangGirl]

A general education (HS diploma) is designed to give you a background that will help you learn how to do anything, regardless what you might pursue later in life.

What may work for some in a traditional educational setting does not work for all. All a high school diploma means is that you managed to sit in a classroom for 12 years. Students don't learn how to think, how to be critical thinkers, how to research and defend their opinions/beliefs. The typical cycle is 1) introduce new material. 2) spend the next 2-3 weeks rehashing it to death 3) take test and never hear about it again. This doesn't work for some folks. I would say my kids are smarter and better educated than some kid who sat in a classroom. I know what their tested IQs are. They are the type that once they learn the material, they're ready to go on. True story...#2 son, 10th grade English. First week of school he sits in the back and reads the text book (American literature). He then disappears for a few weeks. Blows back into class, there's a test on a couple of the stories in the book. He takes the test and disappears again. He goes back in time to get the test results. He got the only perfect score in a class of 25 kids.

High school doesn't teach you to learn anything at all. Not a darn thing. College is a whole different story, different environment. I hated high school with a bloody blue passion. Mediocre grades, utter lack of interest. College? I excelled.

The push for college prep does many students a disservice.

 

[Edward]

What may work for some in a traditional educational setting does not work for all. All a high school diploma means is that you managed to sit in a classroom for 12 years. Students don't learn how to think, how to be critical thinkers, how to research and defend their opinions/beliefs. The typical cycle is 1) introduce new material. 2) spend the next 2-3 weeks rehashing it to death 3) take test and never hear about it again. This doesn't work for some folks. I would say my kids are smarter and better educated than some kid who sat in a classroom. I know what their tested IQs are. They are the type that once they learn the material, they're ready to go on. True story...#2 son, 10th grade English. First week of school he sits in the back and reads the text book (American literature). He then disappears for a few weeks. Blows back into class, there's a test on a couple of the stories in the book. He takes the test and disappears again. He goes back in time to get the test results. He got the only perfect score in a class of 25 kids.

High school doesn't teach you to learn anything at all. Not a darn thing. College is a whole different story, different environment. I hated high school with a bloody blue passion. Mediocre grades, utter lack of interest. College? I excelled.

The push for college prep does many students a disservice.

I can agree with you, you are right, Sister. But about the time I was about to quit school I was looking forward, and went down and got my GED right away. It's useless in a way, but the GED is really sort of a quasi-legal instrument. So my reasoning was that, many potential employers would be prone to give me the hiring nod, or to young men and women that finished something, even more so than any kind of intelligence equivalent of a certain level. Because all young people are going to be green in any industry, and they'll all have to be trained so any level of intelligence is moot at that point. But, how fast can they learn new things? Being willing to finish something that is long and tedious like High School/GED, is more indicative of a good work ethic. Which would help get a job in a new industry, over the drop outs who did not finish.

Unless someone like you comes along and wrecks the curve by teaching your children useful stuff when they're young. It sounds like you did the right thing.

My GED sure is useless at this stage in my life though, lol.

 

[WIP]

What may work for some in a traditional educational setting does not work for all. All a high school diploma means is that you managed to sit in a classroom for 12 years. Students don't learn how to think, how to be critical thinkers, how to research and defend their opinions/beliefs. The typical cycle is 1) introduce new material. 2) spend the next 2-3 weeks rehashing it to death 3) take test and never hear about it again. This doesn't work for some folks. I would say my kids are smarter and better educated than some kid who sat in a classroom. I know what their tested IQs are. They are the type that once they learn the material, they're ready to go on. True story...#2 son, 10th grade English. First week of school he sits in the back and reads the text book (American literature). He then disappears for a few weeks. Blows back into class, there's a test on a couple of the stories in the book. He takes the test and disappears again. He goes back in time to get the test results. He got the only perfect score in a class of 25 kids.

High school doesn't teach you to learn anything at all. Not a darn thing. College is a whole different story, different environment. I hated high school with a bloody blue passion. Mediocre grades, utter lack of interest. College? I excelled.

The push for college prep does many students a disservice.

I sort of disagree with some of what you're saying. High school is what we make of it and by "we" I mean the students, teachers, and parents. The problem is that "we" don't put anything into it and expect the world out of it and that is just not going to happen.

An example for me is when I taught high school Sunday school. I'm not a licensed teacher and have no degree so I have no formal training about how to teach. I believe Bible study at the high school level should be much more than just sitting through lectures. I believe it should be about sharing our faith together and then looking to the Scriptures to find the answers to our questions so we can gain an understanding of what we believe and why we believe it. Too often I found myself being the only speaker with students looking back at me with blank faces.

I'm certain that in many of our high school classrooms, the same situation occurs. The students, at least those not being disruptful, are sitting there afraid to speak and ask questions or even challenge the teacher. Looking back on my high school years that's pretty much how it went until one day.

I was a senior in high school and sitting in a civics class. The class and the teacher had a reputation for being very boring and the topic is not one that spurs excitement for the most part unless one is interested in government processes and such. Anyway, one day the teacher was lecturing us and all of a sudden my best friend suddenly blurts out, "I disagree!" The teacher stopped dead in his tracks, turned to my friend, and said, "Please explain." When he replied, I began to feed off his lead and jumped in to argue from another perspective. This got a 3-way debate going and the teacher lit up like it was his birthday. He loved it and the rest of the year that class was a blast. The more we interacted with the teacher the better it got. The truth was that the arguments we presented were not necessarily what we believed but my friend started the whole thing just to generate a spark and it grew into a flame.

Teachers love it when students interact.

Even at it is, high school is not a waste of time. When I was going to college, a professor once told me something that in retrospect I believe was absolute truth and I also believe it applies to grade school and high school as well. He said, "The purpose of college is to learn how to learn."

In a nutshell he's rephrasing the adage, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." Schooling teaches us how to study and learn so that we can figure things out on our own. When our daughters were in high school, they would often come to me for "help" with their homework. The problem was their definition of help was a little different than mine. Theirs was that I would give them the answers whereas my definition is to help them understand the question and where to look for the answers.

I see a similar thing happening in society today, particularly our workforce. When I first started working here our service technicians were known for their ability to think outside the box, improvise, and overcome challenges when a machine was not working up to par. They would make modifications, fabricate parts, and so on to make it work. Today, when the technicians we have encounter a challenge it is not uncommon for them to call back for help right away, even before attempting to resolve it themselves using a little ingenuity. They haven't learned how to study and learn and it can take a long time to mold them into free thinkers.

 

[MustangGirl]

I see a similar thing happening in society today, particularly our workforce. When I first started working here our service technicians were known for their ability to think outside the box, improvise, and overcome challenges when a machine was not working up to par. They would make modifications, fabricate parts, and so on to make it work. Today, when the technicians we have encounter a challenge it is not uncommon for them to call back for help right away, even before attempting to resolve it themselves using a little ingenuity. They haven't learned how to study and learn and it can take a long time to mold them into free thinkers.

This is exactly why I said high school was a waste of time for those who are intellectually curious. The schools no longer teach you HOW to think, they teach you WHAT to think. There's no space for anything other than learning enough to pass a test.

ut, how fast can they learn new things? Being willing to finish something that is long and tedious like High School/GED, is more indicative of a good work ethic. Which would help get a job in a new industry, over the drop outs who did not finish.

Let's see...all three of mine are very good with computers, cars, home improvement, cooking and finances. They were not formally taught any of these things. They learned by doing, by blowing something up and figuring out where they went wrong. They all have pursued education beyond high school and excelled at their chosen fields. For them, as for me, high school was a waste of time. 90% of what I know is self-taught. Curiosity is being figuratively beaten out of the children these days (and even back in the dark ages when I was young). Interestingly enough, although none of my kids have gone past about 10th grade in high school, the two in college have found it fairly easy and make Dean's list every semester even while juggling kids, jobs and life. The third passed his journeyman electrician's test with virtually no studying. I think he may have glanced at the material.

BUT....that's the point I'm trying to make. If you're to the right on the bell curve, most traditional education is a waste of time. You've were born curious, born wanting to learn...and willing to take the effort to teach yourself whatever you want to know. For example: I am an aerospace/engineering geek. I have an engineering degree, but most of what I know has been from pursuing knowledge beyond my education. I've been invited to be part of thought experiments by people with an alphabet soup after their names, ending with PhD, because what I know and the ideas I have are thought to be valuable. They know my "formal" education is far below theirs, but my informal education is on a par with theirs.

If you're curious enough, passionate enough about a certain field, you'll put the effort into learning. BUT...if it's same stuff, different day, learn to regurgitate the class lecture well enough to make the teacher happy, you may end up with a piece of paper, and no ability to learn anything.

 

[Edward]

They used to teach critical thinking in school. I remember that. Our generation may be the last ones to ever hear that term. Unless we speak it to our kids ourselves.

 

[Razeontherock]

They used to teach critical thinking in school. I remember that. Our generation may be the last ones to ever hear that term. Unless we speak it to our kids ourselves.

OR

unless we take teachers and MUCH moreso administration to task, DEMANDING that critical thinking be reinstated as 'the prime directive' of public education!!

The creation of the DoE (Department of Education) is concurrent with this horrible change. There might be things we can do apart from this forum that address this problem ...

 

[Jim Parker]

Completely drop out of schooling altogether? No. But, if they are not learning anything useful in the institution at which they are attending then I would be all for leaving that place and finding another avenue of learning.

Homeschooling is a great path.
It avoids the atheist, materialist, socialist indoctrination provided by government run schools under to auspices of the Department of Education. (Re-education??)

ALSO: I would recommend that the youth learn a trade as well as academics so that they always have something to fall back on when the economy gets wacky as it is in the habit of doing on a regular basis.