Essay on Children Should Not Be Able to Choose to Drop Out of School

The current situation of high school students dropping out has been steadily declining since the early 1990’s. This could serve society very well if that trend continues to a point where dropping out of high school become relatively unheard of. A social dysfunction of high school is that it creates a class system between those with a high school diploma and those without one. The manifest function of high school is to provide people with the skills and critical thinking ability to obtain some type base level skilled work as well as provides a way to help keep kids safe and out of trouble. In contrast, a high school dropout would have none of those functions and would likely not be employed in skilled work and as a result might have to turn to criminal activities for an income.

Should children be required to attend school past the age of 16? In the United States a number of states are currently dealing with that question. The dropout age, historically set at 16 in most of the nation, has been edging up. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia have compulsory attendance until 18, and 11 others require attendance until age 17 (Slonick, 2012). According to Statistic Brian Research Institute, percent of US crimes that are committed by a high school dropout is about 75 %. This statistics show people that do not stay in school past the age of 16 years old lacks maturity to make sound adult decisions. A financial benefit of keeping someone in school one extra year will increase their annual income an estimated 10%.

Students who dropout of high school before the age of 18 put their well-being at risk later on in life. According to BMC Public Health’s study focusing on over 3146 dropout students ranging in age from 20-29, “Poor mental health was present in 24% of the participants.” This emphasizes the fact that if teenagers drop out of high school they hurt their health because they go into a depressive state easier than their classmates who graduate. As a result of the depression, they go unemployed. This continues into a lack of anything to do and stress of unpayable bills. Finally, the data suggests that students should not be allowed to dropout without a diploma because when these students go into an unhealthy mental state, they can lose connection with their family or lead to worse situations making it even worse. Also in the radio interview, Missy Remiss, an education

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.

A person who does not have a high school diploma is at higher risk of being unemployed being a single parent, being in a gang, or being in prison; therefore, the mandatory age for leaving high school should be raised.

From 1972 to 2006 high school dropout rates decreased from 6.1 percent to 3.8 percent. A majority of this decline occurred between 1972 and 1990, when the rate dropped to 4 percent. However, from 1990 to 1995 there was a surprising increase in dropout rates (Laird & others, 2008). Since then there have been numerous debates and discussions on the issue of dropout rates and how to handle them appropriately. From the information above, it is very evident that the United States wasn’t directly involved with the matter. As a result, stated before, President Barack Obama made his claim towards this issue. This urged most states across the nation to raise the dropout age (Ho, 2017). In fact, a study co-authored by Alan Krueger, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, found that in some states approximately 25 percent of potential dropouts stayed in school since the compulsory schooling age was moved to 18. With an additional year of schooling that 25 percent will increase their earnings by at least 7 percent when

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.

In life there are many struggles that interfere with a students education. In the 1970s, the United States had the world’s highest high school graduation rate. Today, we are ranked number twenty-one which shows a decrease in students that graduate. Lowering the dropout rate can solve several economic and social problems. Dropping out of high school has become a controversial topic that will continue for ages to come. Students should be required to stay in school until the age of eighteen because those without a high school diploma have higher unemployment and lower job satisfaction, have lower earnings, and have a higher likelihood of ending up in jail or on public assistance

Each year, 1.2 million students drop out of high school in the United States alone. According to Dropoutprevention.org teenagers leave school because they feel they cannot complete course requirements, cannot keep up with school assignments or feel they do not connect with their teachers. When the young adults stop their education, they no longer have positive examples to follow and lose a plan for their life in the future. Teens are not yet experienced enough to make these types of life changing decisions. It is important for the government to set regulations for them to follow so they have a better opportunity of success later in life. Students should be required to stay in school until they are eighteen years old because high school teaches them life skills and their diploma qualify

According to the article “Fast Facts” found on the National Center for Education Statistics, national dropout rates of adolescents 16 to 24 years old was 6.5 percent as of 2014 (“Fast Facts.”). While this may seem like a low number at the surface, it is much much higher than first led to believe. As pointed out in the article “Public School Enrollment”, “Enrollment in grades 9 through 12...decreased by 2 percent to 14.8 million in 2013-2014”. (“Public School Enrollment). This means that approximately 962,000 children are dropping out of school annually. This number is much too high and needs to be lowered.

“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.

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

All through high school one always wonders why certain courses have to be taken. Thinking certain courses are a waste of one’s time and how it takes 12 years just to receive a diploma. Sounds crazy to think half of one’s life is spent in school preparing to receive a better understanding of education. During graduation, walking through the stage makes one along other proud and accomplished of all the efforts that took place. This not only helps one become more educated and aware of the things going around them, but helps become financially stable with a job or other necessities in life. Therefore, high school should be mandatory for students at least till there are 18, and not to drop-out.

Instead they worry more about being accepted into the right crowds and owning lots of expensive items to show off. Most people fail to realize gang members are products of a bad environment that they are forced to live in. Immigrant families arrive with little money and have no choice but to live in bad neighborhoods. Society sees ghettos that are overfilled with immigrants and gangs so all low-class minority teens end up being stereotyped as being gangsters. The violence is not only on the streets but also at home. Often times, lower-class minority teens come from unstable homes. Immigrant parents no doubt already have a difficult time trying to make it in this prejudice society. With hard time the common cycle of poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, and sometime physical abuse arises. As a result teenager often rebel against their parents and find solace elsewhere. Because of the lack of love and guidance from parents, teens often stray from the family and wander blindly into the life of a gangbanger. Many of these ghetto troubled teens feel that they have nothin going for them so choosing this type of lifestyle is their way of getting through life and it is the only way they know to get through llife. Adolescence is the most crucial time to shape a young mind. When the world is against them during these times, many minority teens tend to easily stray from the right path and enter into the wrong crowd. Gangs have become a growing

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.