I agree with that too. What we now have is a legislator in Indiana with a bill that would require students to stay in school until they are 19 if they haven't graduated from high school. Doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
When I was a kid, I remember a girl in my class who was a fantastic artist and designer. She had no use for academic subjects. As soon as she was 16 she went to a NYC fashion school. She owned a boutique by the time she was 21. I don't know if she ever got her GED. Another girl left school to become a beautician. That was before you were required to get a GED or a high school diploma before you could apply to beauty school. I think that has to change.
I think the main reason why the school leaving ages creeps up higher and higher is that the powers that be don't want kids on the street.
There are some kids who aren't cut out for academic work. Let them apprentice if they want, take on-line courses if they want, flip burgers if they want or do all of it if they want. Coercing adolescents into going to schools where they don't want to be does no one any favors.
I think the main reason why the school leaving ages creeps up higher and higher is that the powers that be don't want kids on the street.
There are some kids who aren't cut out for academic work. Let them apprentice if they want, take on-line courses if they want, flip burgers if they want or do all of it if they want. Coercing adolescents into going to schools where they don't want to be does no one any favors.
I think it is a power and coersion issue. No one should be in school unless they want to be there. ..I am speaking about after 8th grade. We need to teach our children how to make money, not how to chase grades.