Return-Path: <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f5M64If20085; Fri, 22 Jun 2001 02:04:18 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 02:04:18 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <009301c0fae1$3f4bed20$56b18dcf@woods> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Woods" <woods@ncia.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-LD:3541] Encouraging Kids to Drop Out X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 1939 Lines: 39 Art wrote: > This is gross negligence on the part of public school > administration. And yes the student, as an adult now, resists going > back. And why not. Look what that system did to them the first time. > > We need to fix this. Yesterday. I'm troubled about some of this. On one hand I'm disturbed when I hear about schools encouraging kids to drop out. On the other hand I can envision situations where I'd question whether encouraging a kid to drop out is gross negligence. There is something very accepting and respectful in not judging or trying to interfere with one's decisions, including the decision of whether or not to drop out. Maybe the student is making a mistake, maybe not. Regardless, he or she will learn from the decision. Maybe the student is not ready to complete school at this time; maybe he or she is ready to learn other lessons outside of school. Maybe he or she will be more ready to complete school in the future. Maybe not interfering with one's choice to drop out, and even encouraging him or her to follow his or her instincts is better in the long run, and will keep the door open for the student to return when he or she is ready. One thing I can say about many of my students is that when they get older they are much more interested, more eager, more dedicated more receptive to learning. The young ones are resistant, they don't want to work toward something that is so intangible, so far off. Like Mark Twain suggested, the 17 year olds already know everything. It could be in some cases that a guidance counselor is acknowledging and accepting a student's decision to drop out, knowing that the school has little to offer the student given the school's and the student's present situation. It's just not black and white for me. Maybe it could be made clearer by asking whether we are putting the school's or the student's wishes and needs, as he or she has determined them, first. Tom
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jan 18 2002 - 11:27:59 EST