Zimmer
Un Moderador
+1,688|7182|Scotland

Well, seeing as Britain are thinking of passing a new education law, I thought I would bring this matter up.

Currently, here you are allowed to leave school and get a job at 16. Now, this new law that will probably be passed stops that from happening. It only allows you to leave school at 18. No less.

Personally, I believe this is a huge leap in todays society. You see kids walking around the place in white overalls or brick laying. And you think, "jeez, if he got on the wrong side of anyone, he would be pretty screwed". Most of the kids who jump out of school at 16 are not the "brightest", shall we say, of adolescents in the community. Thus creating an inbalance for work as all these kids want to get a piece of the cake. I believe maturity , here, is also another factor in this decision.
"Do we all really believe that at 16 you can be mature and smart enough to go out there into the real world?"
It seems that most 16 year old drop-outs do believe so. But what harm does another 2 years of learning and socialising with other people your own age do to you? None.

I understand why some kids drop out, because they dont have the "brains" to cope with schoolwork; but the fact is, if you are going to be going into a paint job or builder, why the hell do you need to care about schoolwork.
I do not believe that getting "shoved out into the real world" helps that much with "maturity" when the person who got put in the "real world" is only 16.

The law would probably cause a lot of conflict but nonetheless I believe the law should be passed no matter what.

What are your views on this matter?
m3thod
All kiiiiiiiiinds of gainz
+2,197|7097|UK
Education, Education, Education.

You can develop intelligence and rational thinking, and judging by some of the posts i've read today....Lordy do we need it.
Blackbelts are just whitebelts who have never quit.
Havok
Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist
+302|7101|Florida, United States

Personally, I think that is a law with good intentions but it would not work as planned.  First, I'm 15 years old and  a sophomore in high school, so I think I have a decent understanding of the reasons that kids decide to drop out.  As you said, the ones who drop out are not the most intelligent, and because of that lack of intelligence, they do not try as hard as they would had they been motivated in previous years.  If the government (I'm an American, so even if this law gets passed it would not affect me) did decide to implicate this, it would be a waste of tax dollars because the dropouts aren't going to try harder now that they have two more years to build their life in school.  They're just gonna squander their time 'till they can legally drop out.  Will there be fewer drop outs?  At first, yes; however, once all the would-be-16-year-old dropouts become 18, the number will rise again.  So does it solve anything?  Not really.  It just wastes tax money on people who don't deserve it.  I understand that some dropouts decide to become a dropout because of a lack of money, which does not make them undeserving, but wouldn't that make it more crucial for them to get a job to support their families?
Stingray24
Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
+1,060|6871|The Land of Scott Walker
Hmmm, I had a job at 15 and went to school and pulled a 3.8 GPA.  I'm not saying that's what the average student could pull off, nor am I saying I'm anything special, just that I did it.  I would say getting out of school before 18 would only be a hindrance to the student and doesn't help their maturity.
Zimmer
Un Moderador
+1,688|7182|Scotland

I see where you are coming from Havok although I see it differently.
You have 2 more years of "mucking" around in school, yes, but is that not a good thing? You have more time to mature and learn more, maybe not even in classes but in socialising.
The kids don't realise just how immature they are until they are out of school and fighting tooth and nail for a job.
On friday I saw a kid that was walking with his overall on and his boots covered in paint. The kid was 5 foot, I could have squashed him with one hand. Do you really think kids like that should be dropping at at just the age of 16, at least when you are 18, most things are legalised for you and people will tend to treat you more like an adult. But 16? Come on, gimme a break.
alpinestar
Member
+304|7022|New York City baby.
they should pass that law in USA only make it so that you can leave school after you 25, amount of idiots breeding here is getting out of hand, oh did I mention inventor of micron microscope died today ?
m3thod
All kiiiiiiiiinds of gainz
+2,197|7097|UK

alpinestar wrote:

they should pass that law in USA only make it so that you can leave school after you 25, amount of idiots breeding here is getting out of hand, oh did I mention inventor of micron microscope died today ?
I'll grieve when Cerf and/or Kahn pop their clogs.

edit

Add TBL to that list

Last edited by m3thod (2007-01-22 14:20:15)

Blackbelts are just whitebelts who have never quit.
Immobile Sniper
Member
+3|6925
> It seems that the educational system in America is getting worse,even with all the technology that simply wasn't there when I graduated in 1989. One example. Some of you may have seen where Shaq called Phil Jackson,the Laker's coach,a "Benedict Arnold" in the national media. Phil said a couple of days later that he discussed it with the team,and that several of them,who had at least some college had NO CLUE who Benedict Arnold was. He added that to him,his players not knowing who an important historical figure like Arnold was was in fact worse than being referred to as a traitor,which is what the reference really means. What ARE they teaching kids these days? Tommy D.
Stingray24
Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
+1,060|6871|The Land of Scott Walker
I'm not sure what they're teaching kids now days, it must be different than what I learned in school if they don't know who Benedict Arnold was.  That or they're just not paying attention because they're going to make millions playing sports. I do know they're getting taught to feel good about themselves!  No wonder we have so many cockyass kids running around this earth.
Havok
Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist
+302|7101|Florida, United States

Zimmer wrote:

I see where you are coming from Havok although I see it differently.
You have 2 more years of "mucking" around in school, yes, but is that not a good thing? You have more time to mature and learn more, maybe not even in classes but in socialising.
The kids don't realise just how immature they are until they are out of school and fighting tooth and nail for a job.
On friday I saw a kid that was walking with his overall on and his boots covered in paint. The kid was 5 foot, I could have squashed him with one hand. Do you really think kids like that should be dropping at at just the age of 16, at least when you are 18, most things are legalised for you and people will tend to treat you more like an adult. But 16? Come on, gimme a break.
It is true that 18 year olds are more mature than 16 year olds, but as you said, they only realize how immature they are after they become dropouts.  Wouldn't the chain continue if they stayed in school longer?

And one more thing, I'll be 17 when I graduate in my senior year.  Should I be forced to take another year, even though I plan to go to college.  I have a few friends who are like me but less fortunate that they can't pay for college.  So when they're 17, done with 4 years of high school like is required for a diploma, should they continue to be educated?  By whom?  Because if I were required to take another year of high school (it would be only elective courses because all the requirements for graduation would be met) while all my older buddies went off to college, I'd be pissed.

Note: I don't think the law is bad, but under certain circumstances, it would be a bad thing.
CommieChipmunk
Member
+488|6996|Portland, OR, USA
There are people that just don't want to be there and don't pay attention/detract from the learning of others.  I say don't pass a law required these kids to stick around doing nothing, lighten the burden on the taxpayers and ship em off to Iraq ffs.  It's like conscription except better er at least it would provide some incentive.
usmarine2007
Banned
+374|6793|Columbus, Ohio
I agree yet I don't...kind of weird.  For example, you can drive a car in the US when you are 16, yet you cannot drink alcohol or buy tobacco.  When you are 18, you can fight in a war but cannot buy alcohol, but are subject to adult laws.  I am not sure what the real answer is, but it does not seem fair to me.

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