241. Are Schools the Problem?

This article addresses throwing money at the schools to resolve the issue (problem, or is it a symptom) of school dropouts. I commend the current and past presidents for their dedication to resolving the issue and am sure we do get something from the additional dollars flowing into the education system. But do we really think new desks, supplies, even an additional guidance counselor is going to resolve issues for dropping out like: teen pregnancy, drugs, financial hardship? WHERE ARE THE PARENTS? I wish I knew the solution to the issue. How do we ensure the families, probably largely single-parent, can provide and WILL provide a positive environment to instill confidence and self esteem for their teens? My answer is you just can't expect 100% success when at least the three problems I have already listed are high on the list of removing kids from our schools. Plus we must realistically assume not everyone will be intelligent enough to cope with a college curiculum and not everyone wants a college education, nor do we need everyone to get a college education. Building houses has always been a dream -- college kept me from this. I wish I had spent much more time with auto mechanics, welding, building, creating. So, the question is how do we measure worth. And, who can measure what is worthy for another individual? Do we say Bill Gates is a failure because he dropped out of college? Do we think the thousands who never went to college who own or owned their own businesses, for example our Peggy, haven't accomplished anything or contributed to the fullest to this country? So, here is what I think: of the 30% (using some statistic from the article without any clarification of accuracy), a significant part will be people who contribute to the country in capacities needed by this country. Has anybody ever reported the number of homeless that ARE educated? We need to continue to improve our schools, but not to try to get 100% to graduate. We need to try to get those already committed to a college much more better prepared and skilled. America is floundering because our focus is to make everybody equal despite THEIR wishes and capacities. This robs those who can excel beyond belief by giving the time and money to those who eventually throw their high school diploma in the trash. So, Mr. President, give us the specifics instead of just throwing money at the schools. How can we ensure America's future? With more high school graduations, or just higher educated and skilled people? How do we solve teenage drug addiction? How do we help pregnant teenagers who do want to go to college? The issues are much more difficult to address than to drop more money from helicopters without deep consideration and plans. It's always so easy to create a smoke screen. It's about time we ask for substance.