I had a conversation with a student this week about why she wasn't getting her work done. I started out with my usual conversation about getting smarter. I asked her if she wanted to learn and get smarter.She replied, you just don't get it Mr. McGuire. I wanna quit school. Everyone in my family has quit school. They all dropped out. None of us ever graduate. I just wanna quit and get a job. Besides, I'm not smart anyway. And I'll never be smart. All I ever want to do is get out of school. I couldn't graduate anyway. I'm not smart enough. No one in my family cares either. I am just going to quit school as soon as I can.
Somehow, this made me think (maybe too much time reading about the election) about our country. Here was my speech.
Our country was founded on the belief of everyone's rights for freedom, and opportunity. We have compulsory education so that every kid in America can go to school. No matter where you come from, no matter what your family is like, no matter where you live, you have the right to an education. Our country is set up so you can become anything you want to become. And the first step to a great life is to use this education to better yourself.
Her reply, I don't want to get better. I just want to quit school.
My speech continued:
You must want to learn and to grow and to get smarter. You must want success for yourself. That is what living in the United States is all about. No matter what your life has been so far, you must get smarter and work harder. Use your rights for a free education. Use your rights for freedom of speech. Be the best you can be for yourself.
I can only hope that some how, some way, she will decide to become the first high school graduate in her family, and take advantage of the opportunity we have as citizens of the United States of America.
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13 comments:
I think everyone should think of them selfs as smart or at least be able to become smart. Even if you would be the only one in your family to graduate or be smart. I think that would be great. I hope this person decides to graduate and have a really good job.
I think that who ever said she is going to drop out of school did not make a wise choice. She could be the first one to graduate in her whole family. Her family would be very proud of her. My plan is to graduate and to go to collage. She will not be to successful in her life if she already knows that she is not going to graduate from collage.
NEVER QUIT SCHOOL!
If you quit school you'll never get smarter. If you stay in school you'll be able to make it to college and get a degree. Then after you get a degree you can have a nice house and a nice car to drive to a nice work where you get payed a lot. If thats the life you want to live stay in school.
I also want to quit school but not for the same reason. I want to quit because it is to hard for me. I like school but if I do not get it it makes me fell stooped
I'm glad something was brought to a teachers attention about how many student's are living.As a parent I hear about how bad other student's home lives are.I understand that as a teacher your job is to teach these children how to be educated and further there future but realisticly many of these children don't know any better.Alot of your students are living in homes with such disfunction you only think is on TV.Just take the time and ask most of them will be glad to tell you whats going on.Alot of these kids have alot going on that makes homework seem un important.
Shasta,
I agree with your point. Some students have a rough way to go, just getting to school each day, and back again the next. Our challenge is to get them to learn, so they have the skills to get out of their situation as they get older.
Dylan,
No matter how school makes you feel, I hope you grab a hold of the opportunity so that when you do start to work, you can be successful. Hard work helps build a strong house--or in other words, working hard will make you a better and stronger person.
It is sad but true that so many children do not get the support and encouragement that they deserve and need. If only they all knew that they could be that one person that really makes a difference in someones life. my father never graduated school, but he made sure I knew that he cared about my education. My best was all he ever asked for. And that is all i ask for as a parent.
My best was all he ever asked for. And that is all i ask for as a parent. That is why your children succeed in school. High expectations lead to high achievement.
Dylan,
Dylan you are very good in school and you should not quit. Every teacher thinks that you are very smart and I also do so Do NOT DROP OUT OF SCHOOL YOU WILL REGRET IT.
I am one who quit school at the age of 16 and my heart goes out to the students who are not given the extra push from their families to finish school.I wish now that I would have made better decisions for my self back then. graduating school is one of the biggest accomplishments you will do in life.life is pretty tough at times and it sure seems to be a little easier when you make something of your self. I guess what in all I am trying to say is no matter how boring or how hard school may seem now,later on in life will be here before you know it and you will be real glad that you stuck with it.
Thank you for your comment. No one knows a road better than someone that has traveled it.
I am the mother of the 16 year old that commented above. Although she did not graduate from school and gone on to college as I had hoped, I am very proud of her and her accomplishments in life. I know she regrets not finishing school and has had plans of going back, however the life she has chosen somewhat holds her back....mainly financaly. None the less, you are much better off finishing school.
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