Should Students Be 18 To Drop Out?
Maryland's General Assembly is poised to approve a bill to increase the state's minimum dropout age from 16 to 17, and gradually to 18.
Should Maryland require high school students to be 18 years old in order to drop out?
The General Assembly is expected to pass a bill proposing to increase Maryland's minimum school dropout age from 16 to 18 years old, according to a report by WTOP.
Express your opinion on the topic in the comments section below.
The change will align Maryland with Virginia and D.C., where the dropout age is already set at 18.
"Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to sign the bill, which is on its third and final reading in the House," the report states.
The change — according to the bill — is gradual, with the minimum age first increasing to 17 on July 1, 2015, and to 18 two years later.
The bill provides some exceptions for students to dropout early, including: kids who graduate early or get a GED, are married or are in the military, provide financial support for their family, or are taking classes through an alternative program.
Montgomery County Delegates Anne Kaiser and Eric Luedtke voiced their support of the proposed legislation, according to a report by Southern Maryland Online.
Kaiser cited the state's "moral obligation" to ensure children take advantage of their free public education.
Luedtke, a former teacher, echoed her sentiments.
“'There is no such thing as a child who does not want to succeed,'" Luedtke said, according to the report, "adding that the bill would send a message to every child 'that we believe in them.'"
The Montgomery County Board of Education also strongly supports the bill, MCPS spokesman Dana Tofig said.
What do you think of the proposed legislation that will increase the Maryland's minimum dropout age to 18? Is the change justified or should it stay at 16? Tell us in the comments!
Joyce Jacobson Leitch
2:49 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012
No, I don't think that anyon who is over 18 should drop our from school., just let him or her attend at school as well as complete all the subject requirements.
Joyce Jacobson Leitch
2:51 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012
Monday, April 8, 2012
Elias Vlanton
11:07 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
I am a teacher in what is generally considered a low-performing school. I think raising the age is a terrible idea. So a student who doesn't want to be in school will be there for another two years...what do you think they will do? Sit in the corner quietly? They will disrupt their classmates and undermine their chance at an education. Who benefits from that?
Greg Cohen
11:59 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
You raise an excellent point, Elias. But what would you do? Maintain the age at 16? Lower it?
Elias Vlanton
2:24 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Honestly, I would either lower the drop out age or make continued attendance in school contingent on passing grades. If we allow a kid to disrupt and fail a class and then take the class again at no cost, what is the message we are sending to the kid? That their actions make no difference? I don't know whether this is a general problem or a problem specific to my school, but the students with the lowest interest in learning often get the greatest attention of the teacher.
Corbin Dallas Multipass
4:12 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
"If we allow a kid to disrupt and fail a class and then take the class again at no cost, what is the message we are sending to the kid? That their actions make no difference?"
I would just point out that this isn't quite accurate, they would be a whole grade lower than other kids their age and not in classes with any of their former classmates. That's a huge difference and potential penalty. Even if in only one or two classes.
Elias Vlanton
5:50 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Perhaps, but then again if all of your friends are doing the same, what does it mean. And the flaw in that argument is that you are assuming that the student cares about what grade they are in or if they are going to graduate. If their goal in life at the moment is to flirt with the opposite sex, or hang with their friends in the hallways during class, it is not much of a penalty. Granted I may be speaking only about 10 or 15% of the students in the state, but keeping them in school will not improve either their education and will costs lots of money.