Dismal graduation rates undercut the purpose of public education and reduce the value of taxpayer-financed schools. That may seem a harsh assessment, but it mirrors the fact that too many students waste years of educational opportunity by dropping out of high school each year.
It is a troubling phenomenon that has had educators, legislators and parents scratching their heads for decades. Reducing the problem to dollars and cents is basic. Tax dollars expended on young people who walk away before completing their education is, if not wasted, then given a reduced return on investment.
But the truth is that the most serious impact of a high dropout rate will be felt by those who refuse to finish their schooling. They may achieve success in life at some point, but it most likely will require a greater struggle.
Education simply is a key to opening doors that can lead to better paying jobs, college degrees and personal fulfillment. While a high-school diploma doesn’t guarantee happiness, it does increase the opportunities.
We applaud the determination of the Joplin, Webb City, Carl Junction and Carthage school districts to develop a specific, collaborative plan for encouraging more students to remain in school and thereby reduce the dropout rate. Certainly there is room for improvement. Only 74.2 percent graduate in Joplin, while the rates run from 85 and 84.5 percent for Carthage and Carl Junction, respectively, to 82 percent for Webb City.
Missouri’s graduation rate is an unimpressive 85 percent.
Giving impetus to local dropout prevention efforts is a new law requiring that youths remain in school until 17 years of age. Under the old law, they could leave at 16. That means students who dropped out at 16 last year will have to return this fall.
No one believes that every student will graduate. For a variety of personal reasons, some young people will not complete their educational experience. But they should.
“Graduation Matters” is not only a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education slogan, but a prophecy.
Opinion
In our view: Turn slogan into reality
- Opinion
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Our View: ‘Why?’ has no answer
Just hours before, there was breakfast and laughter. There were pictures on the walls and memories in every room.
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Our View: Absent from House
We can’t figure out why two Missouri legislators think they should be elected to the U.S. House when it appears they can’t seem to show up to take care of business in the Missouri House.
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Your View: Terrorism is terrorism
In the May 13 issue of The Joplin Globe there was an Associated Press article concerning the New Orleans shooting.
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Your View: Should we be outraged?
Were there effusive apologies following the lockdown of Boston as most of the continent indulged vicariously in the ongoing manhunt?
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Your View: Terrible injustice
I see this Jasper County nuisance law as a terrible injustice on the rights of the residents of Jasper County.
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Other Views: Conflicts in SEC
Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want.
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Phill Brooks, columnist: Missouri Senate did what Founding Fathers had in mind
George Washington once described the Senate as being like a saucer in which you pour coffee or tea.
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Our View: Fixing failure
Some 1,200 injured workers will finally get the payments they are owed. In its final week in session, Missouri’s General Assembly, through bipartisan efforts, passed a solution to address the insolvency of the state’s Second Injury Fund.
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Herb B. Kuhn, guest columnist: Delaying Medicaid reform could hurt rural Missouri
The Missouri Legislature missed a rare opportunity in the just-ended session to transform Medicaid and make a real difference in the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. Rural Missouri has the most to lose from the legislature’s failure to act.
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Kevin Wilson, guest columnist: When fear wins out, so do the terrorists
I’m going to make a bold statement that’s sure to draw a lot of comments, but hear me out before reaching for the keyboard to type a rebuttal.
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