The Increase of High School Dropouts Essay Example

in students dropping out. For example, student engagement academically and socially is paramount. If any student disengages, it leads to quitting to do school work and not getting along with peers in school, which are academic engagement and social engagement respectively (Finnie, Ross & Meng, 8). When students are not successful in their studies, it often gives a negative downward spiral in their commitment to a school. When they feel less confident about the school, they are less concerned with co-curricular activities such as games, music, and clubs. Most students, it is their success in extra-curricular activities that boosts their passion to remain in school. Students with no achievement in either academic or non-academic activities lack motivation (John & Lofstrom, 12).

Institutional Perspective

Family background can influence the rate at which students drop out of school at high school level (Finnie, Ross & Meng, 6). Socioeconomic factors related to the family have also contributed to high school dropouts. For instance, students from single parents or stepparents are more likely to drop out of school according to research. Money determines the kind of support a kid gets from a parent regarding quality of the schools, after school summer programs and support for learning within the home (John & Lofstrom, 11). Some parents are not serious enough when it comes to children and their education. Parents fail to impact upon their children the benefits of remaining in school and that dropping out is harmful to their life ahead. Sometimes students drop out because parents instill fear in them. Many students have minimal or no parental guidance. All these combined with lack of communication skills between parents and teens, the

result can be lack of involvement with the schooling activities (Finnie, Ross & Meng, 6).
Student composition, class structure, and education resources have also contributed to the increased number of high school dropouts. It can be put in the form of a pupil to teacher ratio, books that are available for students and many other factors ("School Dropout's Economic Ripple Effect", 17). When it come to school structures, research shows that students from Catholic or private schools rarely drop out of school compared to students from public schools.
It is quite imperative to note that, community and peers have also contributed to high school dropouts. For instance, when a neighborhood poverty rate increases, drop out level also goes up. City residence may affect parenting practices and parental education. There is an absence of effort put forward by a lot of today's students. They seem quite relaxed and have no discipline when it comes to their books. Constant failure is often a prescription for tremendous overload and stress. It tends to amount to the self-fulfilling satisfaction of dropping-out as the only escape.

Solutions

Dropping out incidences can be curbed by educating the teens on the significance of staying in school which requires constant effort and a high spending of time (Levin & Rouse, 20). Parents have to be more involved with their children's needs and requirements and be willing to help them to deal with the problem they may face. Parents must be more articulate in motivating their kids to remain in school ("School Dropout's Economic Ripple Effect", 17). Teens must take the role to accept responsibility for their future and put forth more effort into their studies. Students' successful

involvement in extra-curricular activities is beneficial in raising their dignity. These methods of prevention may seem overwhelming, but the outcome outweighs the initial struggle (John & Lofstrom, 12).

Conclusion

Explaining why students drop out of school is a difficult task because, as with other forms of educational success, it is affected by an array of personal and organization reasons ("School Dropout's Economic Ripple Effect", 18). However, a review of some information does produce some useful ideas into the nature of this problem and the solution. First, dropping out is not merely a result of an academic failure, but rather often results from both communal and academic problems in school. Secondly, these problems often appear early in Students' school careers, suggesting the need for early intervention (John & Lofstrom, 11). Thirdly, these problems are influenced by the lack of support and resources for families, educational centers, and communities. These findings argue that reducing dropout rates will require comprehensive strategies to help at-risk students put across the social and academic problems that they face in their lives and to improve the at risk settings that contribute to these problems. Countries must have the capacity and political will to reduce dropout rates and eliminate disparities among different races and ethnic groups (Levin & Rouse, 20).

Work Cited

• "School Dropout's Economic Ripple Effect".wall street journalThe High (2016): n. pag. Print.
• Finnie, Ross and Meng, R. The Importance Of Functional Literacy. Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2006. Print.
• John, H. and Lofstrom, Magnus. "The Future Of Children". America's High School 19 (2016): n. pag. Print.
• Levin, M and Rouse, Cecilia. "The True Cost Oh High School Dropouts". The New york Times (2012): n. pag. Print.