TIDBIT

Topic: Dropout Rates

-The most common reasons given for students dropping out include pregnancy, gangs, lack of motivation, family problems and drugs, in that order.

Williams, 18, was distracted by family problems and frustrated with teachers and curriculum. He began to question school and his future. Then, his friend told him about Voices of Youth in Chicago Education, a student-led organization aimed at increasing the 55 percent graduation rate by keeping students engaged in school.

“What made me change that?” Williams said. “VOYCE was part. “He joined VOYCE to help other Chicago students who are struggling with school and the same problems he did. “I decided to keep trying because I’m not a quitter,” Williams, a senior at Uplift Community High School, said. “You can’t quit on certain things, you got to keep going, and VOYCE opened my eyes to see that.”

Williams teamed up with more than 50 students from 12 high schools and seven community-based groups in Chicago to research the issue and make recommendations to school officials. Students feel because they are closest to the problem, they are the ones that can help find a solution. A lot of grown-ups think they have the whole picture … for once you are actually getting ideas from a kid that’s dealing with the problem,” said Williams, who attends Uplift Community High School in Uptown. “I think VOYCE is going to make a major change in Chicago Public Schools because we know how the kids feel,” Williams said. “We know what they’re thinking.”

*http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=107795

My Point of View

This article is interesting because for the past few weeks I been working in the Uptown community and to come to find an article online about dropout rates really didn’t surprise me at all.Not saying that all dropouts come from Uplift H.S... The majority of people that live in Chicago come to point fingers at the Uptown community first. This article will help me because I'm talking about the dropout rate that is going to increase once we have longer school days and also its an example by me working in the Uptown Community.