Poll: Should kids be allowed to drop out at 16?

[SimuLord]

No, you should not be allowed at all. People who drop out are fucktarded unless they go to college somehow. Also, more dropouts= more criminals and faux news watchers.

I disagree. Part of the problem with our schools is that there are a bunch of worthless deadbeat kids who are only occupying a seat until they're legally old enough to quit school. I think they should lower the age to drop out of "regular" school to 14, but anyone who drops out is then required to attend a trade school/voc-tech instead until age 18.

When I was growing up, it always seemed like the kids who were the worst seeds in "traditional" classes did just fine when they were in auto shop or culinary arts (and indeed, one of the kids voted "least likely to succeed" at my high school is now a chef serving fine food to and taking copious amounts of money from the kids who once mocked him). Letting them focus on their interests could salvage their teenage years. "Traditional" education isn't for everyone.

 

[Inverse Skies]

No, some people just aren't made for school. There was a guy in my year level, fantastic with computers, just knew them naturally. Rubbish at school, couldn't concentrate or put effort in or anything along those lines. He dropped out at 17 and is doing fine for himself, some people are just sort of made that way. Besides, dropping out at that age if you're clearly not academic or going to put effort in does allow a good start in the trade industry, and we're always crying out for tradies. Normally I'd say stay in school for as long as possible but some people just aren't cut out for that.

 

[zohmbee]

Well, yes and no. People can still be successful even if they drop out at a young age. My friend dropped out of school when he was seventeen and he got his high school credits online. He went to college. He's now a biochemist. It all depends on the person and their reason.

If you have a legitimate reason for wanting to drop out, then yes, it should be allowed. If you want to drop out simply because you hate school and don't want to be there, then no, and you should be slapped for being so thick-headed.

 

[HentMas]

sure drop out at 16, you´ll end up like Mexico

 

[sneakypenguin]

I personally would just drop the last two years of schooling. From what i've seen/heard most of your jr sr year are spent either in filler classes or opt outs or just taking another english/history/econ.

 

[Empireth]

I like how most people here think that dropping out of your classes mean you've ended you potential life.
Not true.
In Ontario, just a few years ago, they raised the age from 16 to 18. I think it was a stupid move. At 15, you start planning your career path. At 15 you have an idea at least, of what you're going to do.

So, with the ability to drop out anytime after the age of 16, it gives you more options.
I know my sister went to an arts school, and she was in the stringed music program there.
She knew of two or three people who dropped out of their grade 12 year to increase their chances of getting into the prestigious universities. They dropped out of grade 12 so that they could spend intense amounts of time practising their instrument to increase their chances of getting into Juliard or other such places right after high school.

In this way, these students showed that they cared about their futures and were planning around it to get them the best chances in life.
I know that by the age drop-out limit being raised you potentially save some of those students who don't care about school (yeah, saving them by creating a more negative approach to classes), what they don't realize is that they screwed over students like my sister's friends (who care about their futures).

 

[Shadow-Knight]

Only if they have a mullet.

 

[CouchCommando]

I've got no problem with the drop out rate been down around 16,If there is the option of a secured career path, personally I would have proffered to drop out at 16 and commence my trade at 16 instead of 18, it would have enabled me to leave an unstable home life behind earlier.

 

[ethaninja]

Well honestly, I reckon they should be able to drop out whenever they want to. If they are forced to stay in school, then the parents have to pay money for no reason. If a kid doesn't want an education, you can't force him to. It's his responsibility to learn or not learn.

 

[Dys]

I don't understand the obsession with locking kids up in institutions where they are not learning anything relevent nor gaining workplace experince. Why should we be forcing kids to stay in school? If it suits the kid why shouldn't they have the option to skip it and move onto something more meaningful (TAFE, apprenticeship etc).

Perhaps their parents should be allowed too, but it is no worse for society at large if a portion of teenagers take trade apprenticeships before the age of 18 (In Australia, we have a shortage of skilled workers so really it should be encouraged).

 

[coldshadow]

yes, lets have kids decide wether or not to stay in school when they are most likley confused about life...

 

[Lord Krunk]

We already have that in Oz. And to be honest, some people are better off dropping out at 16.

 

[kingcom]

We already have that in Oz. And to be honest, some people are better off dropping out at 16.

QFT
It serves no purpose and often simply makes it worse for people who want to be there.

 

[NeonV]

I see no problem with someone being allowed to leave school at 16. Some people genuinely hate school and favour more practical pursuits as opposed to strictly academic. I chose to stay on at school because I knew I wasn't ready for a job and all that responsibility caper and I felt comfortable in the social atmosphere my school provided but I regret every subject I took to A level, mostly because my chosen career path has changed drastically over the past few months.

I'm 18 now and do not regret staying on at school but just wish I'd made better decisions and believe that 16 is a suitable enough age for someone to decide whether or not they wish to further their education.

 

[Brett Alex]

Then again, the kids that usually drop out are often terrible people who make it more difficult for those of us who want to learn, so if you want to make room for my type then I guess it'll just put me further ahead in the end.

Yeah, I'd say kind of that. I know kids who were would have been fine leaving at 16 to do a trade or apprenticeship, but really didn't gel with school.

The only reason they were still there cause their parents made them. Most of them have now completed final two years of High School so poorly they're going to fail anyway.

So now, they've wasted two years, been disruptive in classes they never wanted to attend, and their averages will drag the scaling of marks down.

It would have been better for everyone if they left at 16.

 

[Sick boy]

Yes, I believe that it's fine because in Australia we have other jobs for them. Trades and stuff, not to say I'm ganna drop out when I can.

 

[Deleted]

If I win the lottery I'm going to go to school, unleash my rage at the principal and drop out. Thats the only situation I would drop out.

 

[thiosk]

You know what? if you want to drop out when you are 16, you know what? Fuck you, do it.

But don't expect me to cry when the welfare checks get cut out from underneath you; those stop coming when half the country is a bunch of self-entitled fuckwads who drop out at 16.