Graduating high school is one of the most important events in life. It is a "rite of passage," marking the successful completion of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. The young graduate is a person who has achieved an important goal and, therefore, is ready to take on new challenges such as job training, college, career, marriage, family, home, financial obligations and other adult responsibilities. A diploma is a "key" that unlocks the doors to many new opportunities and is the foundation upon which the graduate can build a solid future.
Students who drop out of school may find many doors locked to them because they lack the important key of a high school diploma. Dropouts generally have more trouble getting and keeping good jobs. Employers are less likely to invest money in training dropouts and less likely to advance them in their jobs. Dropouts usually make less money during their lifetime and tend to develop a low sense of self-worth. Because of not completing school, dropouts may spend the rest of their lives attending "the school of hard knocks."
When people have difficulty with reading, writing and basic math, their potential in life is severely limited. In this fast-changing, complicated and technical world, an education is essential. In fact, a high school diploma may not be enough. Further training or education may be required. Dropouts generally have less chance of learning the skills needed to realize their full potential.
Some students drop out of school because of low intelligence or other learning problems, but most dropouts have average or above average intelligence and do not have learning disorders. Students drop out of school for many reasons. Sometimes they are simply immature. Sometimes their parents lack a sense of responsibility. Sometimes the educational system is insensitive to student needs. Usually, however, dropping out is the result of a combination of these and other factors that disrupt the student's regular school attendance.
Regular attendance is a necessary part of the learning process and is a key to getting a good education and graduating. Irregular school attendance limits the learning process and reduces the ability to get either a good education or a diploma. Frequently absent students put their futures in jeopardy. Chronic absenteeism, especially truancy, is a behavior highly associated with dropping out of school. Students ALLOWED to miss school for illegal reasons, or quit school because they do not want to attend, are establishing a pattern of behavior that may follow them throughout life and seriously impair their potential.
School attendance is one of the important issues facing schools in America. Student absenteeism costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year in lost revenues, and greater loss in human potential. However, school attendance is not an impossible issue to resolve. Its resolution, at least in part, is a natural function of education. Students must be taught to understand the value of education. Parents must learn about their roles and responsibilities in promoting regular attendance. Educators must develop policies and programs designed to keep students in school. The more people know about the importance of regular school attendance, and the better they understand their roles in promoting it, the greater will be the educational experience for every student.
