|
In the last couple of weeks, Californians have been shocked to read headlines saying "California High Schools Post 24% Dropout Rate." Many people thought it was a mistake. I met several who thought it meant dropout rates from college. The San Jose Mercury News ran an editorial calling for statewide action.
The fact is that California public schools are struggling and have been for years. Only now it is getting worse. John Merrow on PBS Learning Matters produced the famous 2004 video First to Worst, documenting the decline of California public schools since the passing of Proposition 13 in the 1970's, which took away tax dollars. It was bad in 2004 and during the last four years it has only gotten worse.
Educators in other states might think these dropout statistics don't apply to them, but they should think again.
Minority students in the six northwestern states are dropping out at an alarming rate.....and the dropout rate across the nation in the 50 largest American cities is 50%, even more shocking than California's rate. The question in everyone's mind is WHY? What is causing young people today to drop out of high school? Experts point to many factors. Barbara Hansen in the San Jose Mercury News discusses many of these in her article titled "Solutions to our shameful dropout rate within reach."
Most experts agree on what it will take to improve education outcomes:
- Reduce class size. Small classes and small schools seem to be more effective. One way to make classes seem smaller is to use computers that individualize instruction.
- Foster good relationships. Positive relationships between teachers and students and also between administrators and teachers are key. Teachers that get along well with their students are more effective.
- Expect a lot. Have high expectations for students and help students achieve those goals.
If schools reduce class size, we will be addressing the main reason for high school dropouts: poor reading skills. The problem starts in elementary school with poorly prepared teachers, students who have had little preparation for kindergarten, and ineffective administrative support. Today teachers face an even harder job teaching reading because many of the students entering elementary school are non- English speakers. Teachers need more support, smaller class sizes, and small schools where each student feels connected and supported. Parents need more training to help their preschoolers get ready for kindergarten. Many children have never had a book read to them.
One 21st century suggestion which seems to make sense is to use online tutoring for students starting in grade two in order to create a one-to-one- like environment. A company called TutorVista offers one-to-one online tutoring for students and charges individuals $99 per month for 24/7 access to all subjects. They also work with school districts for between $5-10 per month per student. Research shows that one-to-one intervention is the most effective. Solving the problem has a ripple effect. Society profits when citizens are productive members.
Students with poor skills cannot earn a decent living and unfortunately often end up in prisons costing taxpayers much more than they would have paid to educate them properly in the first place. It costs $42,000 per year per prisoner in California and double that if the prisoner is older or sick. Today California will spend $10 billion on correctional institutions. Most people will agree it is better for taxpayers to spend money educating students than to spend tax dollars on jails.
 Esther Wojcicki is the driving force behind the development of Palo Alto High School’s award-winning journalism program - the largest high school journalism program in the country. She focuses on assessing and improving student learning through low- and high-tech tools.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
They went and looked at how many 3rd graders in the state couldn't read.
The number had been tested, against prior years data and was simply unimpeachable. And it's not just the cost of housing and maintaining the prisoners Esther. Imagine what our schools in Oakland might look like if we were applying the kind of construction dollars that are going to prisons to classrooms for kids that need them the most!
When are we going to get this right?