More Students Finish School, Given the Time

More Students Finish School, Given the Time

Faced with 70,000 students or more who are years behind in obtaining the credits needed to graduate from high school, New York City is at the forefront of a movement to recognize that for a significant number, high school might stretch into five, six, even seven years.


Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times
David Dorsey, 22, with a diploma, and his mother, Lydia. He said of a counselor, “I just decided to show up to get her off my back.”
In an effort that has expanded across Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s second term, the city has spent nearly $37 million to identify and cater to students who are at the biggest risk of dropping out and has already contracted for $31 million more in programs.

[Cloud]

hmm. I'm thinking you view this as wasteful and pandering to losers, or some such thing. Not sure, because you don't comment explicitly.

I'm going to offer an alternative view. I'm a parent of a child who did so-so through school, then dropped out before graduating. She had a baby, got married, then went, on her own initiative, back to school in a special program for completing her high school diploma, did well, and was very proud of herself.

I am very grateful that such programs exist, and proud of my daughter for doing it. I would point out that the maximum age for this program is 21. After that, I do think they should just get a GED.

I see two very distinct sides to this and have not made up my mind how I feel about it yet.
Looking forward to the discussion.
When I was a teacher I spent a lot of extra time with some students who grew a great deal and wasted a lot of time with other students which harmed the whole class...
It is tough to decide early on what you are about to embark upon.
Edit:
I never understood when I just put an article or new thread up someone always wants to try to read into my reasoning for it if I post none.
It is a waste of time and makes NO sense.
The reason is to have a discussion about it.
Even if I do have a reason, once it is posted it is not mine any more, it is the Cellar's and we make of it what we wish.
Everyone bitches so much about my threads lately. It's not like you spend much time in them unless someone decides to take it personally anyway. I am really thinking about stopping.
You guys can just talk about what you are eating and wearing from now on.

[piercehawkeye45]

I think this is a very good idea. Everyone makes mistakes in high school, some just much bigger than others, and once some wake up to a future of low paying dead end jobs, they might get the motivation to go back where they left off.

[Cloud]

if you post someone else's words without any explanation, we have no choice but to guess.

Why, why do you care why I posted the article... discuss it from your point of view.
Why do you care what the fuck I think?
What Rob thinks sure seems to carry a lot of weight these days and it is confusing the hell out of me. I sure as hell don't care what you think about this nearly as much as you seem to about my opinion, I can promise you that.
I may like you, but opinions are worthless until backed by reason and I have given no reasoning for my posting this, until I do why do you give a damn?

[Cloud]

it's your thread, you should have a point. I want to hear from original posters why they think whatever it is, is important, why we should bother to comment, what their feelings about it are.

So--why did you post this snippet? Why should we read it? Why should we comment? Why should we care? You give us no clue, no jumping off point.

In other words, what the hell is your point about the diploma programs?

you should have a point.

Edit:
I do, to have a discussion.

I already posted this... still having this little reading problem huh?

[Cloud]

Uh huh, for discussion. So why haven't you discussed it? Is this it?

see two very distinct sides to this and have not made up my mind how I feel about it yet.
Looking forward to the discussion.
When I was a teacher I spent a lot of extra time with some students who grew a great deal and wasted a lot of time with other students which harmed the whole class...
It is tough to decide early on what you are about to embark upon.

I can't even relate that to anything in the article. What does this have to do with programs set up to assist drop outs in getting their diplomas?

I'm not giving you shit about your posts (in particular). I just don't like it when people throw stuff out there without giving us poor potential responders a clue. It's unhelpful.

You can't see a parallel with spending an inordinate time helping a student get a degree and doing the same helping one get a diploma?
Done with you. You refuse to think for yourself.

You are stating that you need someone to hold your hand when they post a thread for discussion.
I will not always do this... you may as well stop now.

[Cloud]

your statements are extremely hurtful to me.

Based on what?

[Cloud]

Based on the fact that you basically called me stupid and made me cry.

I did not call you anything "basically" I stated, basically, that you bitched me out for not summarizing or leading the discussion for the thread.
I told you I am not going to do this and told you why.
Why you would cry about this baffles me.
I don't like it and I apologize that my choice of words lead you interpret them to a point to cry.
There is not need for it and I assure you it is not my intent.

[DanaC]

Oh for fucks sake. Stop it. Please. Cloud, don't start taking rk personally. Rk stop being so fucking touchy. Everybody calm the fuck down. You. Are. Shitting. In. The. Happy. Place.

There. Got that out my system.


Of course help and extra time should be made available to those who need it in order to complete their education. We don't all learn at the same speed.