Schools Aim To Award 'Undiplomas' To Dropouts

SF GATE ^ | Thursday, January 23, 2003 | AP

[vannrox]

YORK, Pa. -- The head of the city's school district wants every potential dropout to have something to remember what could be a short-lived school career: an undiploma.

York City School District Superintendent Carlos Lopez wants to give the document, which looks like a real diploma, to students who say they want to drop out of William Penn Senior High School.

[vannrox]

Hum.

[EggsAckley]

I like it, I like it.

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'd also give them a copy of a paycheck of a 40-hour week from McDonald's.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I smell a lawsuit coming for the school.

[Procyon]

What about the dropouts "self-esteem?" I'm sure the dropout can take the undiploma voucher to an attorney and begin the lawsuit for $500,000 against the school system for student neglect.

[8mmMauser]

An UN diploma? The mind boggles.

[Salvation]

**Schools Aim To Award 'Undiplomas' To Dropouts**

Sounds like a waste of taxpayer's money to me.

[Media Insurgent]

When I first saw the title of this article I was afraid it was going to be about some scheme to de-stigmatize drop outs.

It's a nice idea, but I doubt it will have much impact on the dropout rate. The arguments for staying in school on the "undiploma" appeal to logic and common sense. The mindset of the kids who drop out probably isn't very receptive to such appeals. On the other hand, it couldn't hurt and probably wouldn't cost much to implement, so if it keeps just a few kids in school every year, it'll be worth it.