Reply #23: It is an old problem, I agree [View All]

[sandnsea]

I don't think there ever has been a particularly high national graduation rate, back before the 50's most kids went to work in their teen years and it was no big deal. There's also plenty of school to work type opportunities and I don't think that is reaching the drop-out group either. What's missing is the notion of developing a skill, a craft, and that it takes many years and real dedication. We turn kids out of high school or trade school, they're expected to go earn a living in a society where entry level wages don't even pay the rent. A lot of kids, boys particularly, don't even know how to get from 16 to earning a living, working fast food or retail isn't going to do the job. So even if we were to do restructuring, there will have to be a lot of worker advocacy to go along with it.