This piece was originally published on L.A. Youth.
A new program called the Diploma Project is trying to reduce dropout rates at Los Angeles Unified School District schools. The Diploma Project, which is funded by the federal government, has dropout prevention counselors in six middle schools and six high schools.
The high school counselors find students who have dropped out and work with them to get them back in school. They can either re-enroll at their high school or in a program where they can make up their credits, like adult school, continuation school or independent study.
We talked to students from Fremont and Gardena, two high schools that are part of the Diploma Project, about why they dropped out and what helped them return. They were all thankful for the Diploma Project for helping them get back on track to graduate.
Editor Mike Fricano: Why did you drop out?
Maycoll Arata, 20, Gardena Adult School graduate: I was too busy partying, clubbing, going out and having fun instead of studying and doing homework.
Cindy Ávalos, 18, Alternative Education Work Center (AEWC), an independent study program on the Gardena High campus: When I was in ninth grade I didn’t know it was that important to graduate. I didn’t go to class, I didn’t pay attention at all. In 11th grade I realized it was important and I noticed I wasn’t going to be able to graduate.
Mayra Frias, 19, Gardena HS: For me it was a personal problem … Me and my mom would fight every day. That’s when I decided to drop out, which I did when I was in 11th grade for two months. I started looking for a job and I never found one. Then I decided to come back.
Rosario Franco, 18, Gardena AEWC: Since ninth grade I started ditching and I guess it becomes a habit … Every year I would be like, “I’m going to do better next year” but then the next year I’ll go some days but then I’ll miss school other days and I’ll be like “When I miss out, it’s better.” So I started falling back. My senior year I went for three weeks. I was like, “I’m behind credits, I know I’m not going to graduate. Why go and waste my time?”
Curtis Hess, 19, Gardena Adult School: I dropped out of school because I was kicking it with the wrong crowd, gang bangers.
Abigael Perez-Rodriguez, 18, Gardena AEWC: When I entered ninth grade I started hanging out with the wrong people. I was getting high, drunk. I started ditching more and more. We used to hop on Metro and go to downtown, Hollywood, do whatever we want, drink a couple 40s, have fun. I stopped going to school my senior year.
Brigitte Olguin, 16, Fremont HS: In ninth grade my dad was sick. He was almost dying so all that depression got to me and I missed school. I went with friends to try to feel better. It stopped at 11th [grade] because I got caught. They told me, “Why are you missing school? You have a future to go to.” I don’t want to be a low-life. I want to have a good car, a home. If I do good in school I’ll be the first one to graduate in my family. That motivates me to go to school.
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When you are a young teen you always get told what to do by your parents and grandparents or older family members and police officers. Read more...
In Galloway School District in New Jersey, the School Board will vote on a proposal that would limit the amount of homework teachers can assign to ten minutes a night for first graders, 20 minutes a night for second graders, and so on. The proposal would ban assignments on weekends, holidays and vacations, according to the New York Times.
This proposal arose out of parent complaints that kids are getting stressed out to the point of tears, and giving up all their play time to do repetitious worksheets. According to the Times, there is almost no evidence that homework improves student achievement.
The following was originally broadcast on 3/12/11, WABE-FM, Atlanta.
By Mason Gepp
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Two years ago my life was forever altered after I purchased the sleek, innovative, multi-functional iPhone. Besides using it as a phone, I constantly use it to stay connected to the world using the Internet, Facebook and email.
I am a fairly tech savvy person -- seems you have to be nowadays. But my parents, and most people I know older than 50, seem to be technologically challenged. When an adult asks me
if I know how to sync my iphone, download music or use a GPS, they sound like rhetorical questions – of course I do. To me, not knowing how to use these things sounds foreign because I grew up with them.
My parents used to ask me how to turn on the DVD player or how to use the TV remote control. Now, they want me to put music on their iPods or help them navigate their own iPhones. I
can’t really say it’s entirely their fault that they are dependent on me, it’s all new to them. But it frustrates me sometimes. I wish they would make a stronger effort to learn the skills
themselves. And let’s just say they have a lot of catching up to do. I’m not saying my parents -- or people in their generation -- can't figure out these devices, because I know plenty of parents who understand electronic gadgets better than I do. They just need to practice more than people my age. So, I’m willing to make a deal: I will help my parents copy a music CD, if they promise to take the time to learn how to do it themselves from now on.
By Jaylyn Burns
The gadget company Samsung is trying to patent a new filtering software that allows parents to spy on their children's cell phones. The software flags to the parent when the child may be looking at porn or sexting. (The technology itself is pretty cool: it detects how much skin is showing in an image and if it’s too much, the picture goes straight to the parent, while the child gets blocked from viewing it.
The software is supposed to help parents keep their children from looking at porn and/or sexting. Personally, I do not agree with giving parents the ability to spy on their children. Children are entitled to a certain amount of privacy when it comes to their phones. Parents: if you think your child is looking at porn, talk to her about it. If you don’t trust that your child is mature enough to handle it, then don’t give her a phone with picture messaging on it. Simple as that.
More context from New Scientist:
Read more...So can parents say goodbye to unwanted flesh on phones? Perhaps, but there's no reason to think the system will actually be implemented - companies register thousands of patents that never see the light of day. Even if Samsung does develop the software, they might find bare skin detection a tricky problem - the inventors of a recent Chatroulette filter had to resort to more advanced methods for keeping porn at bay.
A few months ago Youth Radio posted about a social networking site for parents and children called Togetherville. This website aims to facilitate an online community for children, since they aren't allowed to have Facebook accounts under the U. S. COPPA Law. Recently, Togetherville was purchased by Disney, according to Mashable.
The site is unique because it is specifically for children under the age of 10, and gives the parents and guardians complete control over who joins their child's social network. Kids can interact, play games, use educational programs, and be creative. Disney has yet to announce how and if the site will change.
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The following was broadcast on 1/22/11 WABE-FM, Atlanta.
By Taylor Walker
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My mom and I have always had arguments. Like other teenagers, our feuds are often about cell phone bills, boys or texting. But lately, the tension between us has gotten worse. I've come to realize that our bickering is ultimately a form of endearment… because I will soon be leaving for college.
In a few months, my bags will be packed and I will be headed for Boston University. But in a strange way, I won't be surprised if I end up missing my mother telling me to turn off my bedroom light and television, take out the trash and, sometimes, to brush my teeth.
The woman who won’t admit that I am taller than her, who constantly squeezes my dimples to force me to smile, my mom will always be part of my life, no matter where I go. As I board the plane, and reminisce about all the arguments that helped me to grow and develop as a person, and venture into a territory hundreds of miles away, in my head, I’ll hear the echo of my mom saying, you’ll live.
Previously on WABE:
* Brother
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In China, families have only been allowed to have one child since 1979. A serious consequence that China faces now, is that the elderly do not have someone to look after them and end up dying alone in their apartments. The elderly are proposing an amendment to the Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Aged, which would make it mandatory to physically and mentally look after one’s parents, according to BBC News.
According to the article, “China has nearly 167 million people aged over 60 and one million above 80." Even though the concept of caring for the elderly is embedded in Chinese culture, new work styles get in the way of family.
Readers had different views of the proposal:
I'm completely in favour of this proposal.I work and live very far away from my mother - who's in her late sixties and lives alone. Though I try to call her a couple of times every week and visit her a couple of times every year, I find it's far from enough. I am busy with work and it's quite difficult to ask for holidays simply to visit my mother. If there's a legal duty to visit one's parents, it would be much easier to apply for leave to visit your parents. Rong Fan, Hong Kong
Merely visiting elderly parents once in a while won't extend much relief to their solitude. Legal compulsion to visit elderly parents won't make much difference in their lives. Moral education must be imparted. However, if the government plans such a legal compulsion, some steps like granting special leave, or reimbursing travel expenditure may help the poor workers and labourers in acting according to the law. I live away from my home town, but my mother lives with me and my family here. Roy Varghese, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India
Read more...I think it should be optional for any individual to look after their parents because any son or daughter would naturally base their decision on the way he or she grew up with the parents. Not all parents are caring towards their children so it is a give and take situation. Thomas Awah Jr Dzenyagha, Douala, Cameroon
The following was broadcast on 1/8/11 WABE FM, Atlanta.
By Eliza Runner
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I've always been sentimental about the traditions I've enjoyed each Christmas. So when my dad recently remarried, I worried about the changes. Rather than celebrating with my mom in the mountains, as I've done the past fifteen Christmases of my life, we would be with my step-mom on the beach. I just couldn't imagine trading Moon Lake for the Atlantic Ocean, snow for sand, and cool mountain air for coastal sunshine.
Though I was hesitant about the new circumstances, I tried to keep a positive attitude and welcome the change. My comfortably familiar Christmas was traded in for new activities: sewing sock monkeys by the firelight, running down the street to see Santa arrive in the town on a fire truck, playing funny German card games for hours and rounds of Frisbee golf on Christmas day.
By embracing the experience, I ended up having an amazing time, without mixed feelings about reinventing traditions for me and my new family.
I feel like traditions have really connected me to my family, but I don't want them to prevent me from having new experiences. They have more to do with a state of mind rather than a specific action or place. As I think about my experience this Christmas, I realize that changing traditions hasn't changed the connection to my family - and I am looking forward to the holidays for years to come.
Previously on WABE:
* Brother
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