Since EPISD would have a lot to gain by reducing the dropout rate, I’ve often wondered why more effort isn’t put into this cause. The conclusion I’ve reached is that such effort from the school district going it alone would be pointless.
The dropout rate, probably between 30 and 40 percent, cannot be impacted significantly without a massive coordinated effort from the state, parents, schools, the community, business groups, civic organizations, churches and city and county governments.
Can teachers alone reduce the number of dropouts? Some, of course. And the rare teachers who can volunteer their lives to their students 24/7, becoming in essence surrogate parents, are able to make a big difference. Hardly anyone, however, can give that much of themselves.
Generally, we don’t have the influence to turn numerous lives around 180 degrees. So, when students have given up academically and use school as nothing but a hangout place until finally leaving, teachers – if they are honest – would tell you they’re often left feeling like this:
Dear Recent Dropout,
Thank you for your decision to leave our school. Hopefully, you have something better to do now than waste 8 hours a day of your time and ours. My workdays have become more pleasant since you left and the other students have benefitted by receiving more of my attention.
Maybe now you have more peace of mind as you probably spent the past several years resenting every school day because, “My teachers don’t like me.” You’re right. They probably didn’t like you. Your only reasons for attending school were for breakfast and lunch, to scope out the opposite sex, and to socialize. You caused daily disruptions and interfered with those who were trying to do something positive. There’s hardly much to like in that.
Good riddance to you and your kind. Yes, we want students to succeed and graduate. You, however, haven’t developed the maturity required to set goals for yourself. You got to high school and even digressed, acting again like the 1st grader you were many years ago. We have a lot of really great students, and your childishness stood in their way. Therefore, we’re fine with sacrificing you for the betterment of those left behind.
Hasta la vista, you ingrate. Given a fine campus, adequate resources and good teachers, you had the opportunity to prepare for college or a career and a comfortable future. You squandered this opportunity, one which young people in many other countries would die to have. Because your life centers around instant gratification, you couldn’t garner the self-discipline required to finish 2-3 more years of school to make yourself better off for the rest of your life. Maybe you have some lame excuses. Maybe you had some real hardships. I do feel a little sorry for you and wish you had stayed in school. In the end, though, you set the wrong priorities. You took control of your social life and recreation but refused responsibility for anything important.
Go and have your fun now. In a few years, you’ll be raising kids on minimum wage, struggling to keep them in decent clothes, or you’ll be writing them letters from behind bars, absent from every milestone of their young lives. Hopefully, you’ll tell your kids not to be like you. If you get a little smarter with age, you’ll tell them to study hard, stay in school, and graduate.
Sincerely,
An EPISD Teacher
Dear 4th, 5th and 6th graders,
Surely, you recognize the anger expressed in the letter above. You should understand that those who take education seriously, have little patience for those who disregard it. In the future, which type of person are you going to be?
I’m writing to you because in elementary school, many young people have already started down that slippery slope toward total academic failure. Please be determined to graduate from high school no matter what life may throw at you. With a diploma, you can go on to college or a trade school or a career such as law enforcement or the military. Have goals. Even if they change constantly, goals give you a reason to keep trying hard.
Academics might be hard for you. You might be behind. Maybe you’re just now learning English. No matter the circumstances, you must set your mind to working hard and always doing your best. Do you have any of these bad habits below?
*You copy most of your work from other students.
*You have not read more than 3 books (other than textbooks) in the past year.
*On a test, you won’t even attempt to answer a question unless it’s multiple choice, true/false or matching.
*You only do homework one night a week or less.
*You beg for points or extra work at the end of every nine weeks in order to pass.
*You are absent more than twice a month.
**You never give any though to what career you might eventually have.
If you are guilty of even one of the above, you are at risk of someday being a dropout. If you’re guilty of even one of these, you’re behind and getting further behind each day. Some day you’ll be one of those students whom the teachers are glad to see quit because they’re nothing but an annoyance.
Don’t let yourself become that type of person.
Sincerely,
An EPISD Teacher
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