newsobserver.com projects - dropouts - Comments

Re: Hagan works on dropout prevention

Seafever — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:12:12 -0400

By the time they reach high school, many "at-risk" kids are heavily into
drugs--either as customers or as dealers. "Using" and dealing lead to crime, so just ensuring they are not dropping out of school does nothing to relieve the bigger problem of criminality. Many budding dealers attend school for the sole purpose of engaging more customers--handing out samples, etc.
School is not the magic antidote to entrenched devilment, and it's simplistic to think so. Teachers are not wardens, but teachers.
The "at-risk" kids' problems begin in babyhood--set up a program to prevent abuse, neglect, molestation then and you might achieve something.

NC does not want SOLUTIONS to Dropout prevention--JUST MONEY

humbleblaklady — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:28:39 -0400

"that gave hunderds of thousands of dollars to for an after school line dancing program in Greensboro."

WASTE.

The real (sad) IRONY here is that while the Greensboro School Board Officials were "WASTING" taxpayers money on non-productive, non-results oriented programs--it REFUSED TO SUPPORT or even consider programs like AmericasCHILD RELAY (www.americaschildrelay.com) which the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation cited back in 1991 as being the top "Community Change" in the State. This program has two decades of success--but NO SUPPORT from these same wasteful, self-serving education administrators/officials.

Re: Dropout prevention details sought

stoops — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:22:05 -0400

Athens Drive High School in Wake County used their grant funds to send their lead literacy teacher to the University of Kansas to learn “Kansas Strategies,” a literacy program for at-risk children. Of the $38,979 awarded to Athens Drive, expenditures included $1,466.83 for travel, $800 for registration, $4,000 for supplemental materials, and another $1,500 for training materials. From the 2006-2007 to the 2007-2008 school year, Athens Drive retained fewer students – the graduation rate decreased by four percent and the dropout rate increased by nearly one percent.

Hayesville High School and Hayesville Middle School in Clay County used their dropout prevention funds to buy $32,500 worth of equipment, including 30 computers, electric notepads, calculators, 3 smart boards, 19 document readers, and 5 document cams.

Avery County Schools spent nearly $45,500 of their $148,474 grant on contract fees to the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, spent over $18,500 on staff development (possibly for the AVID Summer Institute in Atlanta, GA for 23 employees) and used almost $13,000 in grant funds for supplies.

In Polk County, the school system’s $100,000+ grant included over $3,000 for student meals.

Re: Dropout prevention details sought

PaulTerrell — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:28:37 -0400

These prevention grants are a terrible waste of money and are a massive failure. Mark Johnson, you need to be a lot more accurate in your postings. Democrat legislators are still unable to balance our budget without massive economy killing tax increases.

Re: Dropout prevention details sought

onelivewire2 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:53:48 -0400

This is also the wasteful program that gave a $150,000 grant several years ago to teach step-dancing in one of the state's high schools. It's nothing more than a way to buy votes in house and senate districts and should be dropped. I'd also like to know why the N&O doesn't identify the "budget negotiators" as Democrats.

Re: Dropout prevention details sought

jonoflocke — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:23:04 -0400

Terry Stoops' research has found very little actual benefit or positive results from this program.

this is the program...

PoliticalJunkie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:41:56 -0400

...that gave hunderds of thousands of dollars to for an after school line dancing program in Greensboro.

WASTE.

this is the program...

PoliticalJunkie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:41:34 -0400

...that gave hunderds of thousands of dollars to for an after school line dancing program in Greensboro.

WASTE.

Re: Dropout prevention details sought

OlBlue — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:57:23 -0400

Students have learned that they do not have to perform, on a daily basis. They only have to pass the End of Grade tests to be promoted to the next grade. Unfortunately, they are not prepared for the rigors of High School, leading to frustration and dropping out of school. End of Grade testing should be only one factor used in promotion, but many times it becomes the ONLY factor.

Re: Anti-dropout grants get support

woodcox — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:33:32 -0500

Any word on results from the program? Has it actually prevented dropouts?

Re: Pat McCrory will rock you

FFC1304 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:31:09 -0400

yep, he's running opposite 'Sugar Dumplin' Perdue...'MORE CORRUPTION WITHOUT INTERRUPTION' is her campaign slogan!

Do you folks realize how the NC Senate ramroded the $21.5 BILLION Budget down your throat WITHOUT any discussion from the floor? Perdue and WIDEmouth basnight would NOT allow any attempts from republicans to offer improvements, suggestions! THIS is HOW CONTROLLED NC IS under these OPPRESSIVE, CORRUPT, MANIPULATIVE CROOKS!!!

STRIVE to be SMARTER than a NC democrackkk!!!

Re: Pat McCrory will rock you

Proctor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:10:42 -0400

It's amazing how hostile some folks in Raleigh can be to the simple, straightforward notions of political outreach and honest discussion of serious issues.

On a lighter note, some musicians may have observed that even if the lead singer in a band is strumming a guitar or playing a piano, it is often the drummer and the bass player who seem most naturally to serve as "governor" and "lieutenant governor" of the musical entourage.

For even if you are singing the "lead" on a song, you can't really deliver your lines unless you have the "agreement" or "consent" of the rhythm section.

David McKnight

Re: Pat McCrory will scare you

bnartist — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:31:39 -0400

Don't forget he talked deliberately about crime, gang problems, gangs from Central America, illegal immigrants roaming the state, career criminals stealing and again, illegal immigration all in the same breath. Talk about fear mongering.

McCrory also talked about a beltline mentality? He needs to get outside 485 more often and he shouldn't believe everything Jack Hawke is telling him to say. He should also check the lyrics:

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place

Re: Pat McCrory will rock you

lefaim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:11:36 -0400

Who is he running against? Is he running against the (still, surprisingly) popular Easley, who is a recluse? Or is he running against Perdue? Because Perdue is far from reclusive. Does McCrory realize that the Republican Primary is over?

Re: Report: N.C. dropout rate 12th worst

dahedgehog — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:19:19 -0400

What's the source for that 95% number? I think you need to double-check your work there: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/newsroom/news/2007-08/20070906-01

State Superintendent June Atkinson highlighted the cohort graduation rate - a measure that moved up in 2007. "In 2007, 69.4 percent of the students who entered ninth grade in the fall of 2003 graduated from high school in four years or less," Atkinson said.