THE ROBERT W. WHITAKER ARCHIVE

DEREK | 2006-02-14

Derek says,

"My parents wanted me to drop out of high school at 16 and go to college. I didn't want to, because frankly, that was where I thought all the drugs and girls were. Little did I really know that there was an abundance more of both in college.

I had two friends drop out of high school and go to college with just a GED. Both make ten times what I do now. What does that say about public school?

The main argument that my roomates and I have is about public education. They support it and I don't. I tell them I would support it if the public at large were comprised of different people. Again that makes me a naziwhowantstokillsixmillionjews or a racist.

I usually just laugh anymore.

They can back up their arguments with 'feelings' and what they consider right. I tend to back mine up with stats.

I didn't learn that in college. I learned it in life.

Comment by Derek "

You see how much I learn here?

When I was sixteen, I didn't even KNOW about the GED and I found out later, about 1960, that you had to be 19 to take the thing.

From what you say the age requirement has been removed. That amazes me because the education establishment would have fought it every inch of the way.

COMMENTS (2)

#1 Derek | 2006-02-14 19:46

I don't know exactly what the age requirements are anymore. In Ohio, where I grew up, most kids that dropped out did so about age 16 (or at least it seemed that way to me). Maybe they let you take the GED at 16 so that you could drive to work as the driving age was that way too.

I had another friend drop out at 15, got his GED in juvenile prison, and started working on his BS in chemistry at our local college which was well known for it's science programs. All paid for by the state. Of course by 17 he shot himself in an altercation with the cops.

#2 Peter | 2006-02-17 16:10

Derek,

I sadly know a lot about public schools. In almost the whole country, I strongly believe that everyone would be better off if the kids just stayed home.

I don't mean home-schooled.

I mean kids would learn more by just staying out of those places. Yes, it may hard for some parents to teach small children to read and write, but that means at about age nine, most kids would be better off spending life swimming in a pool than in public schools. Really. They can learn more by reading a book or watching the History Channel. Of course America was made great by the home-schooled.

Even a good community out in Wyoming or a good private school has big problems.

Would you send your kid to study under the Mob, even if the lady supervising him seemed nice?