Highschool Drop Outs

[First Crusader]

I saw some interesting stats that I already knew about, but still don't quite understand.

More than one in four Hispanic youth drop out, and nearly half leave by the eighth grade.

Hispanics are twice as likely as African Americans to drop out. White and Asian American students are least likely to drop out.

http://www.focusas.com/Dropouts.html

Another article:

http://www.civilrightsproject.harvar.../dropout05.php

I know that this happens in the Ghettos, which makes sense. But I don't understand why it happens to Hispanics too. These articles don't really answer my question, as far as I can tell.

Why? Any ideas? Society cannot find the cure until it can diagnose the disease. Right now, we only know the symptoms; higher drop out rates for blacks and hispanics.

[Atheist Peace]

Something seriously needs to be done about american education policy. The only person who seems to care is Lou Dobbs.

..and this really belongs in the mudpit, as its a political issue at heart, moved.

[Captain_Paulentineous]

Im hispanic (50% at least) and in eight grade and i have no intention of dropping out, and any other hispancis i no aren't.

[Kanaric]

Does it say how many of these drop outs are children of illegal aliens? That could possibly contribute to it. Some of those people want their kids to work full time jobs so they will have them drop out as soon as they can get one.

[First Crusader]

Does it say how many of these drop outs are children of illegal aliens? That could possibly contribute to it.

Dang, I didn't even think of that. Good point! In the southern states along the border, it is safe bet that illegal immigration has a lot to do with this.

[Alexander Beats Hannibal]

Why? Any ideas? Society cannot find the cure until it can diagnose the disease. Right now, we only know the symptoms; higher drop out rates for blacks and hispanics.

This will always be true for the poorer segments of society. There are some fundamental flaws in the American education system, obviously. It's not lack of funds, but the way they are distributed. Schools that do better ultimately get more funding, and the teachers are paid better. You end up with a system that really prevents an improvement for poorer areas.

Besides that, much of the cash passed down from the Federal government is simply misused at the state level, and spent on things it wasn't meant to be.

[Rowan11088]

Well Hispanics as a group are impoverished today in this country, so that would mean many are forced to drop out of school to work. Those statistics would be similar for the poor in general, I don't think it's really racial at heart. Though of course there may be cultural issues as well.

[First Crusader]

Well Hispanics as a group are impoverished today in this country, so that would mean many are forced to drop out of school to work. Those statistics would be similar for the poor in general, I don't think it's really racial at heart. Though of course there may be cultural issues as well.

That's my thought, too.

[Kanaric]

Have to look at migrant workers as well, i dont know much about them but i'd bet having to go from farm to farm to work for groups would cause dropouts as well.

[wooda]

I didn't know you could drop out at eighth grade, here in Israel you can only drop out after ten years of education (after finishing tenth grade), they seriously should change the laws to tenth grade, when kids actually start to see the reason behind having a good education, and when they can actually resist their parents demands to drop out to get a job.
This would allow teenagers to evaluate the importance of education for them.