Georgia failed to count thousands of high school dropouts (foreclose, student loan)

[alco89]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I can guarantee you that the majority of teachers in a "low-performing" school are just as qualified and work just as hard (or harder) than teachers in a "high-performing" school. When most of the students begin at a lower level, your results are just not going to be as lofty.

I'm not saying that the kids are not as capable, but that their environment often hinders them from being successful. Poverty, drugs, and other ills of society that are more prevalent in urban areas are usually the culprit. I don't really know of a solution, but these rating systems for schools and merit pay for teachers are certainly not the answers.

I agree!

[tonygeorgia]

Less people my future kids have to compete against for a job in the future

[bdawk]

Originally Posted by alco89

EXACTLY!!!! I hate how people rate school systems! Why is it the schools' fault that the students drop out? Why is it the schools' fault that there are kids not passing tests when they clearly don't care to? It REALLY gets on my nerves when parents say "I'm not sending my kids to this school because their test scores are lower than this one and they don't graduate as many students."

As the poster above me stated, I would be less likely to send my child to a poor performing school NOT because I think the teachers there are necessarily worse that at other places but because the environment might not be the best for learning. If kids are not interested in learning and have no pressure from home to do so, those kids might become distractions to the rest of the class and make it more difficult for them to get ahead.

If a school has a higher % of graduates as well as higher test scores and college attendees, I would feel more comfortable with the teachers ability to teach my child and spend less time baby sitting. It does say something to me about the parents involvement at home and maybe even a competetive environment to achive high scores.

Speaking from personal experience IF my parents had allowed me to go to my local public high school (which was very low performing) it would have been very difficult to not get caught up with the wrong crowd or if nothing else a crowd that just didn't care at all one way or the other.

[AcidSnake]

Or more people to worry about breaking into your house.

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Less people my future kids have to compete against for a job in the future

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I can guarantee you that the majority of teachers in a "low-performing" school are just as qualified and work just as hard (or harder) than teachers in a "high-performing" school. When most of the students begin at a lower level, your results are just not going to be as lofty.

I'm not saying that the kids are not as capable, but that their environment often hinders them from being successful. Poverty, drugs, and other ills of society that are more prevalent in urban areas are usually the culprit. I don't really know of a solution, but these rating systems for schools and merit pay for teachers are certainly not the answers.

I agree that most teachers are probably competent and hardworking. More than likely there are some outstanding teachers in the mix.

However, school is like many other things in life -- students who don't bother to show up are guaranteed to lay a stink bomb. Even poor kids can show up for school by the time they are in their mid-teens. Breakfast, lunch and many other benefits are free.

And it's not necessary for either students or their parents to use drugs. I realize there will always be people who give in to temptation or social pressure, but 48%?

Even graduating with a D average beats just walking away. If you drop out, what kind of message are you sending to the taxpayers who are knocking themselves out to provide you with a free, Rolls-Royce experience? Just not good enough for you?

[AcidSnake]

Maybe in places like Alpharetta, but in some places the education experience is more like a stalled-out 1980 Ford Pinto.

Originally Posted by arjay57

Even graduating with a D average beats just walking away. If you drop out, what kind of message are you sending to the taxpayers who are knocking themselves out to provide you with a free, Rolls-Royce experience? Just not good enough for you?

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

Maybe in places like Alpharetta, but in some places the education experience is more like a stalled-out 1980 Ford Pinto.

Who's fault is that? Schools are only as good as their individual area allows them to be.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

Maybe in places like Alpharetta, but in some places the education experience is more like a stalled-out 1980 Ford Pinto.

Why do you figure that is? It sure isn't for lack of money, at least not here in the city of Atlanta. The program we provide is deluxe.

[Mirabella]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Even graduating with a D average beats just walking away. If you drop out, what kind of message are you sending to the taxpayers who are knocking themselves out to provide you with a free, Rolls-Royce experience? Just not good enough for you?

So you think under-performing teens are thinking about how they are sending a message to taxpayers when they fail to graduate?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Mirabella

So you think under-performing teens are thinking about how they are sending a message to taxpayers when they fail to graduate?

They ought to be thinking about it. If they're not, someone should remind them that they're being given an amazing gift.