After Gov. Jennifer Granholm supported making it illegal for students to drop out of school at age 16 during last month’s State of the State address, some local school officials are questioning if it’s the right choice.
The legislation, House Bill 4042 and Senate Bill 11, is currently moving through the state Legislature and would raise the age of compulsory attendance to 18 for students who enter grade nine in 2009.
‘I think that just passing the bill doesn’t go far enough in the sense that it needs to be more comprehensive,? said Dr. Bill Skilling, Superintendent of Oxford Schools.
Although Oxford has a drop out rate of less than two percent, Skilling said there are simply children who don’t adapt to the traditional school setting that would be hurt worse by this bill.
‘They may get themselves in trouble or expelled, but yet we don’t have a place for these kids to go to further their education,? he said, adding that once a student has been expelled, no public school in Michigan has to take that student in. ‘So, where is that student to go??
The big question that needs to be addressed, in Skilling’s opinion, is why these kids are dropping out.
Like the new mandated curriculum changes brought forth by the state last year, Skilling said these bills to raise the drop out age are ‘based on the false assumption that all kids are the same.?
‘This is the kind of thing that we as educators get upset with our politicians in Lansing about,? the superintendent said. ‘They kind of understand an issue before they enact a new law to try and improve education.?
Though it may sound like Skilling is opposed to this bills, he wants to stress that he’s not.
‘I just think we have to look at things a little more comprehensively and (examine) the ‘what if? when we do these types of legislations,? he said.