Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion High school graduation after 10th grade - article

I left high school after 10th grade. It was the best decision I ever made. I am hopeful that my dd's will be able to participate in one of the many early college admission programs. Many high school are excellent and offer kids a wide variety of enriching and wonderful experiences but many do not. Mine was not one of them. High school was juvenile detention that organized kids into educational classes to keep proper track of them. Just my humble opinion.

I think the idea of the technical school is what worries some folks; being 'shunted' off on a non-college path before you've had two more years to get serious about your schooling. But the idea doesn't sound like they would force kids out, just offer the option. I just read a Ruf interview where she was talking about just this thing: finding ways to make going the route of working 'with your hands' an honorable path - not a last resort. It would make more economic sense for a lot of people who would prefer that path - get a leg up on training for a job as an electrician, a plumber, etc. Move more quickly into a level of competency in a field /achieve higher earning potential earlier.

I am sure she says it better than I am stating it:

http://www.ednews.org/articles/452/...ed-Children-Being-Left-Behind/Page1.html

Seems as if it's a work in current progress. I'd like to see them use the SAT as one of the tests with a decision on what scores justify an actual graduation certificate at that point. While community colleges should be available to those not ready to go on to college, ideally they should have partnerships with at least one local community college, it shouldn't be mandatory.

Example being those that score high even for high school seniors should be treated on merit of SAT scores and allowed to apply to four year colleges.

Is that what OWL and NEWTs are? I have not heard of those terms.

OH!

I'm not into those books, I guess I would be a muggle...