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Education Woes

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More than one in ten high schools in the US has been labeled a "dropout factory." The distinction is far from flattering, as the nickname applies to schools in which 40% or more of the children don't graduate.

The greatest concentration of these dubious schools lies in large urban centers and areas with high poverty. The surrounding neighborhoods may experience high crime rates, drugs, and violence, and students may need additional help from social services. But officials also point out that some neighborhoods and towns just don't possess a strong tradition underscoring the importance of high school graduation. In the past, there were enough blue-collar jobs to go around.

Many of the students who attend dropout factories enter with poor literacy and math skills, which only exacerbate the search for a solution. The kids enter ninth grade with fifth grade reading skills, for example. Faced with these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it's no small wonder that so many schools fail to give these children opportunities in the land of opportunity.

Conversely, in Japan, private high schools cater to children without the academic and social skills for traditional school. Expensive, yet easy to enroll, these institutions are degree mills. Principals and administrative staff pressure teachers to administer grades based largely on attendance. If students fail the final test or don't do homework, but attend 100% of the lessons, they can walk out with a B average. What's worse, kids can sleep, text messages, or chat with friends rather than participate in the lesson. Teachers readily admit they're in a quandary, and simply wait to be transferred elsewhere.

Additional woes on the state of education come out of England. Despite a massive program to raise reading rates, reports indicate there has been almost zero impact. Rates remain unchanged since the 1950s.


Preview some of the lesson material:

Speculate:  What might "dropout factory" mean? Brainstorm possible answers with a partner(s) for 2 minutes. Spend another 5 minutes or less discussing the ideas together.

Rank It!: Which subject is the most important for life? Rank them in order and support your decisions!

  1. World History
  2. Advanced Algebra
  3. Chemistry
  4. English
  5. Business

post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!

  1. What is/was your high school like? Please explain.
  2. How important is education for success? Why do you think so?
  3. Do you think that kids learn a lot of useless subjects in school? If yes, what subjects are useless? Why?
  4. Are there similar problems in your country? Are there different problems? Please explain.
  5. What will the consequences be in the future for society if children don't graduate? Why?

Google Search: Type "dropout factory" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.


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