Lower school leaving age?

[Caz]

I’ve been reading an article by a teacher of long standing.
He is recommending lowering the school leaving age to 14 for certain pupils.

His idea is that disruptive pupils, who cause problems in the school system, can be directed into training schemes, rather than use the money on anti-truancy measures.

Apparently the average cost per truant returned to school is over £71,000.

His idea is that literacy and numeracy packages are built into these training schemes. Many of these pupils have never learned even the basics.

Also that they will respond better in a more adult environment. And that once they are channelled into doing something they are really interested in, the point of learning will become clear, and will therefore encourage them to seek further education.

Any comments?

[Mik Dickinson]

Ok agree with the training schemes but lowering the school age not too sure about.Any scheme to get kids back on to the right road and give them a better chance in life.Aye definately like that one.Good topic Cazzer would be interesting to see what opinions come up

[lettie]

8)  Would tend to agree but only if these kids are actually made to do the training schemes and not dossing on the streets. I reckon we have at least 3 kids in my area who would benefit from this. They are truants on a regular basis, they hang around the back alleys setting fire to things. Their parents couldn't care less, as they are either drunk or in prison, or working. Our community warden catches them regularly up to no good, and all our elderly citizens round here are terrified of them. If they were working a 40 hour week and learning a trade they would be too tired to be causing trouble ;D

That's just my opinion though, as these kids are the minority.

[HarryX]

Well I legally left school at 14. I was born in Aug so I was 15 soon after.

This was what was then called a secondry modern school.

I am still slightly illiterate 30 odd years later.. Yet everyhting being relative its made no difference.. I am more knowledgeable than some people with loads of GCSEs ;D Oh come on I couldn't resist!

I am OK without them... however I know the importance of qualifications in this day and age.. I also know that anyone who leaves at 14 to go on a special scheme will have that on record... so any employer will know at the interview that they went on the scheme and wasnt alowed to stay on at school... thats gonna harm there chances of geting a job..

So all in all although it didnt effect me.. I would say keep it equal... if the child is disruptive or isnt learning then maybe the school should adapt and change there ways rather then passing the buck..

[lettie]

;D  My mum also left school at 14, and had to work to support her younger brothers and sisters, as her father died when she was 12. She has no qualifications, but is extremely intelligent, especially with words, given the opportunity to continue her education, she would have loved it. It's such a shame that kids had to leave education back then, because their families couldn't afford for them to continue.

[littlemo]

interesting topic. Over here the kids are 18 when they leave and basically you wouldn't get much of a job if you havn't completed high school. However, many kids would benefit in an alternative form of education, as really thats what it would be. Proper trades are dying out as the technological age takes over, but some kids just arn't cut out for that and are better with thier hands. They'll make a fortune in the future as there's not many left so it will become specialised. I think if it's not made out to be some sort of high school drop out, but more an alternative, it would also give these kids a direction and get them off the streets.
you can't just lower the age and kiss these kids goodbye.

[Caz]

I think it’s an interesting idea.

Presumably the pupils who this would apply to, have been failed one way or another, either by the education system not recognizing their needs early enough, or through lack of parental support.

Having been at college recently, I came across quite a few young students who failed miserably at school for one reason or another. They then chose a career course and returned to further their basic education.

I also came across kids there who were still of school age. All boys I might add, although this isn’t necessarily always the case, who had been taken out of the school situation for behaviour reasons. They were at college for the basics, as this was the only option left.

A lot of these lads flourished in the college environment, and passed exams they would not have done at school.

Virtually everything a child does from starting school to leaving is now kept on school records.
If these kids were given the option of training schemes with study included, and showed a marked improvement during their studies, this could only be a bonus, and would look better on their educational records than simply constant truanting.

As littlemo says, they should not be classed as high school dropouts, but following a different route to qualifications.

We know there are some who won’t be helped no matter what the education system does, but a large percentage of kids are crying out for some direction in life.

There is always the other side of it too, that kids who are doing well at school are missing out, because resources are being used to keep disruptive, unwilling pupils at school, & countless teaching hours wasted on the same.

[Mick]

well said cazzer i agree totally with what you are saying

[ANNE]

I just missed the 14 leaving age and left school at the Easter. I didn't want to leave school but was forced to go out and get a job i didnt want. I do however think that kids should have the option to stay or leave. Providing they have some scheme or job to go to.

[Darby]

Very sensible approach Cazzer...and well put.

I feel that the old apprentice scheme should be brought back and made compusory for any firm with more than 24 employees. It would not replace College, but be part of an all-in training course, of which college would be the formal training. Practical training can have a great deal of influence on many youngsters of to-day.

Not all kids are bad...but those that are....are really bad!

[ShortStuff]

I think that some children as young as 14 already know that they do not want to go onto college and being able to chose to go onto a training course that will teach them the skills they will need in their chosen trades would be very beneficial. I don't agree that it should just be for children that otherwise would be dropouts. When I was at school and we chose our GCSE options at 14, there were options to go to college (1/2 day a week) to learn about mechanics etc, so I suppose that was a step in the right direction. Children (or adults for that matter) will always do better at something they enjoy and if it will contribute to their working life, it can't be bad thing.

[Mik Dickinson]

My experience has been that a lot of people that are not theoretically minded but good with their hands have gone on to show fantastic minds.After seeing that they are good at repairing things for example then they have shown great interest in the theory side of things, and because they already understand the physical side of the job it makes the theory a lot easier to understand

[mez]

quite true there mik, ive experienced that myself in the course of my working life.