I read a post on a blog recently that stated that in Chicago 50,838 students dropped out of Chicago public schools last year. And I think it's safe to say that a large number of these kids are African American.I know that there is a drop out problem in America but 50,000 kids a year? That amazes me that so many kids in one city drop out.
Think about those numbers: 50,000 a year drop out, so that's 250,000 kids in 5 years and half a million in ten years.
What the heck are these kids going to do? The U.S. economy is becoming more and more high tech. How are these kids going to compete? How many are destined for jail and public assistance?
I am floored by these numbers in just one city. Imagine what the stats are nationwide. There is no way that African America or America can prosper if huge numbers of African American kids are dropping out of high school.
Why do you think so many kids are dropping out? Are they lost forever once they drop out?
Photo Attribution: NC Museum of History
8 comments:
I don't think students who drop oput are lost forever but in terms of competing in the job market, it's gonna that much harder to get ahead.
As far as why they are dropping out? No clue...
i think so many kids drop out of school because they are hopeless about their future and believe that no one in the school system believes in them. I work in NYC and i noticed a lot of new "alternative high schools" geared to kids who dropped out of high school. they are generally faster than high school (max 2 years), offer GED and assist their students through the college application process.
those numbers are very troubling and present a very bleak future for our kids, but we can't stop the good fight.
peace,
e.
Afrodite,
I hope they aren't lost forever but the odds aren't good without high school.
Eva,
I think alternative high schools are great. I hope the kids take advantage of them.
I think your point about the kids feeling like no one cares is a key one. I think communities have to get more involved in letting kids know that they are important and cared about.
I don't think black students dropping out of school has anything to do with school itself. I think its more of their background or upbringing which promotes it. Most black kids have already witnessed a potent dose of what they feel the world is about, and begin to take on this "school is in the way" persona.
Pregnancy, poverty, having sex too early, criminal behavior, parents incarcerated, drug usage, etc. are some examples or dosages.
MDC: Okay, I've been swamped. . . you know I have to weigh in here. . .Parents are different - what they expect from their kids is different. Parents who value education produce children who value education.
Don,
Those are some pretty big road bloks for kids ot overcome. Someone has to explain to them that those situations can be temporary if the do well in school and don't quit.
Lisa,
I agree with you. Maybe there ought to be some sort of parental training for parents of kids who drop out.
Are they lost? Most of them, unfortunately.
Why are they dropping out? Because their parents didn't put a foot in their backsides when it could have done some good.
I know these answers seem trite. but we need a little tough lovin in our communitis these days.
Gunfighter,
I think in some cases you're right. Sometimes though our kids need tenderness. The culture that some of them exist in is so rough already.
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