As an educator of a school on previous academic probation, I have seen the impact of failing test scores. Often, this results in teachers being fired, several professional development classes, and an increase in after-school programs. Luckily, I have never witnessed the encouragement of students to drop-out just to eliminate the negative scores on their school’s report card. I admire Michigan’s decision to employ and track a four year strategy plan to solve rising drop-out rates. I believe this plan will be successful since it benefits both students and schools: and hopefully this balance will encourage more schools to try similar programs.
Michigan’s plan is based on four equally important points: data collection, policy development, and practice for teachers and alternative programs for students. Currently many schools only distribute reports every four years however students in need of help require immediate identification to avoid failure. However if regular documentation is not required, there is an unclear record of the student’s needs therefore- I agree that yearly reports of at-risk students should be produced by all schools. Early detection gives students a better chance to receive help.
A well thought-out policy in this plan was to raise the drop-out age to eighteen and to reprimand schools that have a history of pushing students out, rather than educating them. In addition, parents should be educated about the negative impact dropping out can have on their child’s future to avoid complicity.
Teachers know the students who need extra help, but often don’t know how to assist them. With practice, teachers will be able to keep track of students who are struggling so that can be helped immediately.
Michigan realized the need for a diverse education system and invested in the technology of Cyber School to provide alternative opportunities. Conceptually I agree, however I believe that “seat time” should only be offered to junior/senior students. Michigan is on the right track and sends a positive message that “Failure” is not an option.
My first year if teaching, I taught a careers class for students who were considered Life Skills in my district, basically students who function at a level that they cannot be successful in the regular education class, but are required to take the same classes as regular education students, just in a self contained classroom with a special education teacher. Knowing that many of the students in my class were the "type" that would possibly never finish high school due to struggling with being successful in passing classes, I focused my teaching on the impact of staying in school. I remember the lesson clearly that opened many of their eyes to why staying in school was important. I put $1,000,000 on the board. I then went into the cost of education beyond high school. Each time I said the amount one year of college would cost, I would go back to the $1,000,000 and tell my students that the $1,000,000 is the amount of money they will make more than a person who does not finish high school and go onto college. $1,000,000, especially to high schoolers, is a huge amount of money and the look I had in their eyes has stuck with me to this day. I focused on the positives of staying in school and never talked about the negatives of dropping out. I always made sure they knew they could accomplish anything, within reason, as long as they gave it their all. That was 3 years ago, and all of those students I watched walk across the stage this year to graduate. I don't give myself the credit for them staying in school, but I hope that during their sophomore year, I planted the seed to keep them in school and to forget that dropping out was even an option.
ReplyDeleteWelcomed post! Thank you for your thoughts and sharing your personal experiences. I have you down for 5 posts. Keep up the good work! Make sure you keep track of where you give comments, so we can track them.
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