Argumentative Essay On The Dropout Age

In their article, Levin and Rouse say that in the United states the dropout rate has fallen since the 1970s. They state that programs should be enforced to promote dropout prevention. While these programs may be expensive, more high school graduates benefit the economy in the long run.

The purpose of this proposal is to let people know that high school dropouts is an issue in today’s society. At the present time, every year 1.2 million students drop out of high school. The average age that students dropout is between sixteen and twenty-four years. Students drop out because of either personal factors, family factors, and community factors or all of the above. Drop out students should be encouraged to finish high school because non-graduates fail to succeed in life.

There are many negative effects caused by dropping out of high-school. Some of these effects include dropouts being more likely to become delinquents, more likely to have a lower income, and more likely to be leading an unhealthy life. According to the article Raise the Legal Dropout Age by the University of Toronto, "An average dropout earns less money, is more likely to spend time in jail, and is less healthy, less happy and less likely to be married than a high school graduate." These are some major effects that everyone should be aware of. Simply dropping out of school can change someone's whole life for the worse.

“Dropping out of school does not seem to happen overnight; it comes after a long term process of frustration and failure” (Balfanz par 2). According to the National Center for Education Statistics, The population studied students attending Baltimore schools and gathered research that indicates how low test scores and report card grades as early as the 1st grade are reliable sources of whether students would later drop out(Alexander, Entwisle and Kabbani par.6). Also having to go through grade retention as early as kindergarten is also connected to why the dropout rate has reached a dynamic level (Kaufman and Bradby par.6). Whoever decides to drops out has no type of support, encouragement, or ambition starting at such a young age.

Society wonders at what age student should be treated as adults. In this country, sixteen year olds are considered as grown-ups. Certain people think that teens are adults when they are eighteen. Unlike people, students think the mature age of an adult to drop out should stay at sixteen. We should change the dropout age from sixteen to eighteen.

Over the years, many high school students complain about not getting enough sleep. This topic is controversial because of the possible downfalls that could occur after postponing school by an hour. While there are a few concerns with moving to later start times, hundreds of high schools across the country are starting class later and students have still managed to attend club meetings and finish homework by a reasonable hour. According to the article, "New research suggests that later high school starts have widespread benefits". With this in mind, I believe that high schools should start later due to the benefits gained by high school students.

The dropout problem is not only an individual problem, but it is costly to society as a whole. Warren & Halpen-Manners (2007) explained, “high school dropouts is of fundamental social, economic, and political importance and has major implications for educational policy and practice, patterns of economic and racial/ethnic inequality, and the quality of America’s workforce” (p. 335). Coupled with that, Neild et al (2008) further argued going through the portal into adult life without high school credentials carries severe economic and employment penalties. Also, Kennelly (2007) explained “When students drop out…. the toll of the quality of life and the prosperity and competitiveness of the communities where they live and collectively across

The age of adulthood in our country should be determined by the ability of a person to prove that they are mature by paying bills, holding a job or attending college instead of by arbitrary laws and set numbers. In my opinion, I think the age of having a job or driving a car is the age sixteen even though I am arguing about that it is the most appropriate age.

Were you aware that every year, over 1.2 million students drop out of high school in the United States alone? That’s a student every 26 seconds – or 7,000 a day. Currently, 20 states have ages 18 as a dropout age and 30 have it as 16 and 17. All states that have school dropout ages under 18 should be raised to 18 because dropping out will make them earn less money, become less healthy, and increase the likelihood of going to jail.

“Dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country, and this country needs and values the talents of every American.” -Barack Obama. This quote from Barack Obama was from his address to Congress. Some might say that high school is not for everyone, but dropping out of high school can affect your future. As of right now, the dropout age is 16 . Teenagers at the age of 16 are not very knowledgeable of what happens after high school. At the age of 16 teenagers are not an adult nor should have to worry about dropping out of school. Therefore, students should not be able to make this life- changing decision until their senior year. Getting a high school diploma is a big deal yet these students are dropping out and losing the chance to have a good job that pays well and have a better future.

Schools want us to be well-rounded students, in order to be well-rounded we have to get our homework done, do sports and get between eight and ten hours of sleep! Sometimes that’s not possible. Most middle school students get between seven and seven and a half hours of sleep, about two hours less than the students should be getting!

If you never went to school where do you think that you would end up? Do you think that you would have a job? If so what kind of job do you think you would have, flipping hamburgers at a fast food restaurant, or working at a grocery store? Maybe you would have another job, one that doesn't pay well with lots of manual labour. Poverty is a major problem in America, little did you know that one major factor leading to them can be easily solved. When kids drop out of school they do not think about their future, that can be completely destroyed by one simple choice. Kids should legally not be allowed to drop out of high school because that has a major negative impact on their future, their children, and on their surroundings.

It is a big concern for many in the United States dealing with high school dropouts. Ever year the rate of high school dropouts is increasing at a rapid pace than expected. The dropout rate of persons under the age of 18 has risen from 8.1% in 2009 to 9.2 % in 2012 according to the National Center for Education Services. These kids are leaving school at a young age and have a lot of spare time on their hands and when this occurs, persons around their years of 18 can end up in trouble. The education system of the United States are trying their best to keep these children in school and earn their education. There are some states that already have programs and laws that requires children to attend high school till they graduate with their

Department of Education, 1999). If people drop out of school, how will they expect to get a job and strive for the rest of their life to make the money needed? Surely, they could get a decent job, but they will most likely not be able to afford much for a family, necessities, a home, etc. Dropping out of school will come back to torment the person in the future. After getting held back, some students fill with hatred towards the school and bring down their attendance. It only shows weaknesses in the student and after getting held back, they need to try harder, but end up trying less. With that issue being a small percentage of the population of people who do get held back, the other percentage keeps working hard to bring their grades up and set goals (Holmes 1998). Ways to fix that small percentage of people who do get held back and have hatred, would be setting up summer school or after school programs as another source of education and take a test again after the programs are over to test if the person should still be held back. It gives a second chance for that person to stay in their own grade and allows him or her to make a decision whether or not the person wants to be held

Will negatively affect a student's future. Bob Keeshan once said,”Children don't drop out of High School when they are 16 they do so in the first grade and wait 10 years to make it official.” Throughout the years studies have shown that in a year 1.2 million students drop out. Which leads that only 25% of High School students during their freshman year fail to graduate. Dropouts in the United States have became a very trending thing we must get to the bottom of this problem. Young adults should not be making these decisions it's time to step in.