I am teach an ROP/GED-Preparation class in California. They are supposed to
stay in school until the age of 18 in California.For some reason they can
attend my school and not be in trouble with the law. I teach 16 to 21 year
olds. But--the minors under the age of 18 cannot get a work permit unless
they are in a regular high school. They also cannot take the actual GED test
until they are 60 days from turning 18 years of age.

Some of my students are very hard to reach, some of them are only there so
that the parent can continue receiving their section 8 or whatever other
public assistance they are getting. But--not all of them, some of them truly
want to get an education and get their GEDs to go on to college. Then there
are some that I am sad to say are just never going to make it through the
GED because they don't put their all into learning. They get easily
frustrated no matter what I try with them, but they continue coming back for
some reason. Sometimes I think our classroom is maybe a safe place for them
to come during the day.

I work with at risk students so it can really be a challenge some days. Some
days I want to pull my hair out but then there are the other days when a kid
makes a break through or catches on to something that he/she just wasn't
getting.

Okay I am rambling.

Just had to share though.


On 3/19/07, Woods <woodsnh at isp.com> wrote:

>

> I am not in one of the states with compulsary education until age 18,

> but I think it would have several unexpected consequences if it were to

> be enacted. It would raise the cost of secondary education. With no one

> dropping out, schools would have to provide a free education to all

> kids. The kids who normally drop out are also the more difficult ones to

> work with, so the added load would likely be more expensive than the

> average cost per pupil.

>

> Compulsary education would not just be compulsary for the youth. It

> would also be a responsibility of the providers, and this might change

> the way secondary schools interact with youth. I know now some school

> personnel will encourage certain kids to drop out and then be picked up

> by an alternative education program such as ABE. This would stop with

> compulsary education.

> Tom Woods

> Community High School of Vermont

>

> Schneider, Jim wrote:

>

> >A bill is currently on the floor to raise the compulsory age of school

> >attendance from 16 to 18.

> >

> >I agree with the idea, but have severe reservations as to the actual

> >effects/consequence of this law.

> >

> >Can those who live in one of the 17 states with such a law comment on

> >the effects of the law?

> >

> >Thanks,

> >

> >Jim

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >Jim Schneider

> >Assistant Dean

> >Scott Community College

> >Career Assistance Center

> >627 W. Second Street

> >Davenport, IA 52801

> >(563) 326-5319  phone

> >(563) 326-6039  fax

> >

> >Do not despise the small act.

> >

> >Every small act, if you do it deeply, profoundly, can touch the whole

> >universe.

> >

> >Millions of small acts will build a wonderful world.

> >

> >Chan Khong

> >----------------------------------------------------

> >National Institute for Literacy

> >Focus on Basics mailing list

> >FocusOnBasics at nifl.gov

> >To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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> >Message sent to WOODSNH at isp.com.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> ----------------------------------------------------

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>




-- 
Gloria Fuentes
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