Alaska's dropout rate double US average

[spindrifter]

By MEGAN HOLLAND
[email protected]

Published: November 16th, 2008 12:11 AM
Last Modified: November 16th, 2008 01:46 AM

Some educators say they can see which kids aren't going to make it on the first day of kindergarten. Some children show up knowing how to read, while others come not even knowing what the colors are.

Battling one of the worst dropout rates in the country, Alaska educators gathered for a third day on Saturday to brainstorm how to stop the epidemic of kids quitting school before earning their diplomas. They called dropping out a result of an accumulative failure, which can start before kids even enter school.

"This is a social issue, one we all own," said Association of Alaska School Boards executive director Carl Rose. "We all need to take some responsibility in this."

<snip>

Part of the issue, according to University of Alaska president Mark Hamilton, is cultural. Parents and families are not valuing education. They need to realize even skilled labor fields, like plumbing or construction, require training that depends on knowledge, such as math, learned in high school.

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http://www.adn.com/education/story/590870.html

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This is what the Governor should be working on, instead of keeping the kids out of school.

[aquart]

1. It's all that socialism.

[peacebird]

2. the pappy of Palins soon-to-be grandchild dropped out of school this fall

When is the newest member of the Palin brood due to arrive anyhow? She was 5 months preggers at the convention - should be ready to pop by New Years, no?

[Blue_In_AK]

4. We're paying attention.

I'll be the first to let you know. :)

[peacebird]

5. thanks Blue_In_AK. So, how's Sarah adjusting to "just" being Gov?

And how are Alaskans feeling about her now?

[Blue_In_AK]

6. She just got back here a couple nights ago,

and we haven't heard too much from her since her return, so it's hard to say yet how she's "adjusting." Feelings towards her have definitely cooled, though. There were just starting to be some cracks in her facade during the summer with the whole Troopergate thing, but thanks to John McCain we now have a much more complete picture of who she really is -- and it ain't pretty. I guess we owe him a debt of gratitude for forcing us to look more closely at her weaknesses.

I believe she is supposed to have a budget ready by December 15, so I'm sure she's got some lackey working on that in a back room somewhere. Governing Alaska is probably going to be quite boring to her now.

Personally, I want to see her and her minions fall flat on their faces. She's got some wacko supporters out there who think she can do no wrong ... hopefully they'll be outnumbered now by the smart people who feel betrayed.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. The governor is not setting the best example

taking her kids out of school for nine weeks to use as props.

There is a large cultural component to this, though, no doubt, given the many, many small rural schools and their unique challenges. It's a complicated issue that Sarah really isn't adequately addressing.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. It seems she's responsible for at least 2 maybe 3 of the dropouts.

Track, Levi and has Bristol returned to school?

[dkofos]

8. I bet they have a higher rate of teen pregnancy too.

[d_b]

9. ASD dropout right here

:hi: