Comments on: Is dropping out necessarily a bad thing? http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/is-dropping-out-necessarily-a-bad-thing/ Learning differently Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:32:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tiara http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/is-dropping-out-necessarily-a-bad-thing/#comment-20225 Tiara Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:51:48 +0000 http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-20225 Hi Steph! I'm not sure what the dropout rates for Malaysia or Australia are - I know in Malaysia there tends to be such a strong stigma against dropping out that the only people who ever do are either too poor and need to start working, or have started families. I would like to see your article when you're done :) B*B, Tiara Hi Steph!

I’m not sure what the dropout rates for Malaysia or Australia are – I know in Malaysia there tends to be such a strong stigma against dropping out that the only people who ever do are either too poor and need to start working, or have started families.

I would like to see your article when you’re done :)

B*B, Tiara

]]> By: Steph http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/is-dropping-out-necessarily-a-bad-thing/#comment-20224 Steph Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:18:48 +0000 http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-20224 Hello. This is such an inspiring post... really. I found it while googling "why is dropping out bad", for an article I'd like to write for Associated Content. I was reading the newspaper, an article called 'Who has public education solution?" and it seemed to focus on dropout rates. Instead of solely focusing on dropout rates, shouldn't we understand why they're growing, instead of just focusing on raising the graduation rate? I would like to encourage people to delve in deeper and seek the reasons for this. I would like more exposure on other options besides traditional schooling for people who learn differently and/or are disinterested in conventional education, plus more free/democratic/alternative schools. I'm in the US btw, I am not sure what the dropout rates are like in Malaysia/Australia. Also I fear, though I am uncertain, that so much focus on "dropout rates" is because more graduation rates = better rep and higher ranking for school. Which would be a shame, treating students as commodities... Hello. This is such an inspiring post… really. I found it while googling “why is dropping out bad”, for an article I’d like to write for Associated Content. I was reading the newspaper, an article called ‘Who has public education solution?” and it seemed to focus on dropout rates. Instead of solely focusing on dropout rates, shouldn’t we understand why they’re growing, instead of just focusing on raising the graduation rate? I would like to encourage people to delve in deeper and seek the reasons for this. I would like more exposure on other options besides traditional schooling for people who learn differently and/or are disinterested in conventional education, plus more free/democratic/alternative schools.

I’m in the US btw, I am not sure what the dropout rates are like in Malaysia/Australia.

Also I fear, though I am uncertain, that so much focus on “dropout rates” is because more graduation rates = better rep and higher ranking for school. Which would be a shame, treating students as commodities…

]]> By: aijud http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/is-dropping-out-necessarily-a-bad-thing/#comment-19993 aijud Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:31:14 +0000 http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-19993 Hurray for this article. I find it highly ridiculous that some people in high school happen to believe that the only (rational) option is to enrol in a science stream, and the rest would be considered low class. I think independent learning should be encouraged. Hurray for this article. I find it highly ridiculous that some people in high school happen to believe that the only (rational) option is to enrol in a science stream, and the rest would be considered low class.

I think independent learning should be encouraged.

]]> By: Clay Burell http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/is-dropping-out-necessarily-a-bad-thing/#comment-19653 Clay Burell Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:00:55 +0000 http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-19653 Love the question. I think so many students with a sense of the value of their time and the goals of their life should seriously consider getting out of high school early and moving on to whatever they'd prefer to do. I've been planning to write on this too - there's a post on a blog called Blogush in which a teacher reports a student privately telling him that school is a complete waste of time and brain power. The teacher asked his readers what they would advise, and I answered along the same lines you're entertaining - tell the kid that dropping out (or testing out) might be the smartest thing s/he could do. I'm enjoying your writing and ideas. Love the question. I think so many students with a sense of the value of their time and the goals of their life should seriously consider getting out of high school early and moving on to whatever they’d prefer to do.

I’ve been planning to write on this too – there’s a post on a blog called Blogush in which a teacher reports a student privately telling him that school is a complete waste of time and brain power. The teacher asked his readers what they would advise, and I answered along the same lines you’re entertaining – tell the kid that dropping out (or testing out) might be the smartest thing s/he could do.

I’m enjoying your writing and ideas.

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