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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook. New Hampshire's staggering drop out rate - 1 in 4 students drops out before getting a diploma. we look at the stories behind the statistics. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Drop-out Return to index of stories... |
It's June. The time for high school graduations and celebrations. But according to a new report, twenty-five percent of the seats at ceremonies across the state. will be empty. In this program we'll talk to the study's author, the state education commisioner and an adult educator to find out why. First, some background. Phil Vaughn takes us to Somersworth, where, according to the report, one of every three high school students will drop out before they reach their senior year. |
| drop-out Return to index of stories... |
Shots of teacher and students in the classroom Terry clip 2257 "As we saw with Sept 11, when there's a crisis, we can come up with the money to fight terrorism. Well, there's been a crisis in education for 20 years, yet no one has been willing to step up to the plate there." Narration 1 For twenty-two years, Terry Dostie has been teaching at Somersworth High School. On this day, he and his students are discussing an issue that some people are calling a crisis in New Hampshire. Sound of drop out discussion dissolve to report cover page Narration 2 According to this report released by The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, the average high school drop-out rate in the state is 25 percent. The authors of the "1 in 4" report examined the cumulative drop out rates at New Hampshire's public high schools. In other words, they looked at the numbers of students entering ninth grade and then graduating four years later. While some schools had a zero drop-out rate, others were are high as 50 percent. Dr. Ott 1:49 "The numbers are just numbers, behind them are kids. There are 59 in this community and we need to know those 59 stories and look at what we can do. We need to reach out and engage those students more effectively." Narration 3 Dr. Charles Ott is the School Superintendent in Somersworth. He has been part of the educational system in the state for more than forty years. He has seen a lot of success in classrooms but is acutely aware of the problems, as well. Ott clip 3:55 "There are many attractions outside of school that pull at students, especially if they're finding school painful, frustrating and perhaps humiliating. You put that distractions outside of school and the motivation is to move out." Brenda clip 22:33 "A lot of teachers seemed to help me only half way." Narration 4 Brenda Grandmaison is one of the thirty-three percent of students in Somersworth who dropped out of high school. She's sixteen years OLD and works at WalMart. Like several of her friends who recently quit school, Brenda felt disconnected from her teachers. Brenda clip 22:40 "They wouldn't help you through problems. They would spend most of their time with the group of kids who goofed off and the rest with the kids who were really smart. A lot of the kids in the middle wouldn't get the help because they were quiet and wouldn't ask." Narration 5 ACCORDING TO EDUCATORS, the reasons students drop out of school are varied and complex. They range from the demands of after-school jobs to problems with unsupportive parents. The "1 in 4" report also noted a correlation between school spending and the drop-out rate. Ott clip 14:30 "I've worked in affluent and not so affluent school districts I see that difference starkly." Terry 16:32 "Its not only about hiring good teachers but retaining them - some districts can do that and when you have that continuity rather than constant turn over. Its hard for a student to have a relationship with a teacher when they leave for a better paying job. My guess is that richer districts don't face that problem." Ray clip 5:00 "I think Nick is a bright kid and I think that his teachers felt that as well - when he was focused." Narration 6 Nick is Ray Atwood's 17 year old son. Though a smart student, his disciplinary problems began in the early grades. He entered high school in South Berwick, Maine, and transferred to Somersworth following his parent's divorce. One year ago, he quit school in his sophomore year. Ray 7:21 "I am guessing that it had to do with not enough attention in the vocational program. I say that for Nick, not all because they do have a good program there. But he needed someone to keep him focused and on task or he would end up off aside with a couple of kids and it would go down hill from there." Ott clip 13:20 "Our response to this problem is more instruction. We call it bridges to success. But the bridge in every case is instruction. Were saying to kids, were going to build this bridge it may be a summer program, after-school program - we're going to build a bridge, but you have to cross it. We are going to extend ourselves to you, point the way to go, but you are going to have to cross the bridge." Narration 7 And that bridge must sometimes be crossed by parents, as well. Ray 10:17 "I accept responsibility. This is also a parent issue. That initial discipline and work starts at home - reading to the child at an early age and working with them throughout. In Nick's case, the divorce had an impact, but once the problem exists, it is often passed on to the school and becomes a burden on them. We have to somehow find teachers who can work with these students." Ott clip 6:35 "The answer lies in my opinion in the deep intrinsic motivation to learn. Learning must be the reward in itself - hanging a diploma out there is not going to do it. We must ask ourselves, how do we organize instruction so it meets the needs of the individual student." Narration 8 For Nick and Brenda, those needs were met at the Dover Adult Learning Center where they both received their General Equivalency Diplomas. Brenda clip 25:10 "When I left Somersworth High School, I felt alienated. When I left I was afraid I was not going to do anything with my life. It wasn't true." ` Narration 9 Brenda and Nick are fortunate - they found help they needed. But EDUCATORS SAY, for others, dropping out of school can have profound consequences. Ott clip 18:17 "The biggest cost of this phenomena is our democratic society. We tend to look at this economically. That's not the biggest cost. The biggest cost is that we are going to produce people who are poor citizens. And they're going to live next door to you and they're not going to be the type of people that you want because they are not going to be well educated and that's going to be a huge cost for this society." Narration 10 For NH Outlook, I'm Phil Vaughn. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
People may be shocked by those numbers.Joining me to talk about the report, its author Doug Hall from the New Hampshrie Center for Public Policy. Donna McAdam from the Dover Learning Center and Nick Donohue, Commissioner of Education. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Nick - 25 % drop out rate.what's going on? Doug - A Union Leader eidtorial questions the accuracy of your report.Saying you didn't take into account outmigration or students And the fact that any students who said they were trnasferring to another school and didn't end up there were automatically counted as drop-outs. Also, that some may have graduated in five years. Motivation spend more on school Donna - we heard about two students who dropped out - citing alientation in school lack of individual attention.What else are you hearing? We hear that sometimes students feel like a failure.Or are pegged as such.Does that contribute to drop-out? Speak to outside influences jobs, etc. that entice students away from school. The relationship of per pupil spending to drop out rate? What about number of boys to girls drop-oput ratio? How do we motivate kids to stay in school? Where do we go from here? school boards involvement students teachers, bussinessses, civic organziations. What's at stake? |
| Dirty Bombs Return to index of stories... |
In the news this Monday, U-S-Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a man had been arrested for plotting to build and explode a dirty bomb. A dirty bomb is designed to spread industrial grade radioactive material in a populated area. New Hampshire's head of emergency preparedness says the state is ready for such events. He says response and decontamination of radiation plans are already in place due to the fact that the Seabrook Nuclear Power plant is located in the granite state. |
| TYCO Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire based Tyco Monday had its credit rating downgraded to junk status. The company also replaced its general counsel. Former CEO Dennis Kozlowski last week resigned and was indicted for tax evasion. The company itself is facing a criminal investigation of its finances. |
| NH Growth Return to index of stories... |
According to a Commerce Department report, New Hampshire ranks 4th in the nation for economic growth. The survey looked at the period from 1999 to 2000. The Granite State had a 7-point-8 percent growth rate. The average around the country was 4-point-5 percent. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Monday was a relatively quiet day as clouds made their way over the northeast. We checked in earlier with Chris Peruzzi at the Mount Washington Observatory to see what conditions were like on the mountain. |
| Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Mount Washington Observatory\Monday on the Summit\In and out of the clouds, with overcast skies\High: 43\Peak Gust: NW 48 mph\Visibility: 100 Miles Tuesday\North\Cloudy skies with rain\Highs: 60 to 65\Winds: Light and variable\ Tuesday\South\Rain \Highs: 63 to 68\Winds: Light and variable\ |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - the fight over redistricting. redrawing the lines at the state supreme court. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. the state's high school drop out crisis. we'll hear from educators and parents tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. the fight over redistricting. redrawing the lines at the state supreme court. Tonight at 10pm only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Filings Return to index of stories... |
Republicans Bob Smith and John Sununu made it official today -- filing for the U.S. Senate race The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in the general election. Smith said the election will be about experience and seniority, Sununu said he will run a grass-roots campaign. Sununu also said he has the experience, leadership skills and vision to represent New Hampshire well. |
| key: education Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:6/10/02 / 2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a discussion on the New hampshire drop out rate. PRODUCER/REPORTER: NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Doug Hall\NH Ctr for Pub Policy Studies Nick Donohue\NH Dept of Education Donna McAdam\Dover Adult Education |
| key: Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:6/10/02 / 2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included PRODUCER/REPORTER: NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on our program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts. If you've got a story idea or comment on our program, click the feedback button on our website. Or, call us at 800-639-2721. |
| Intro manufacturing Return to index of stories... |
As if the recession and nine eleven were not enough stress on manufacturers around the country and here in New Hampshire, now manufacturers are facing a hiring crisis. So, besides establishing basic skills training for new employees, they are also trying to correct the misperceptions high school seniors and their parents have about careers in manufacturing. |
| Tag Closer Return to index of stories... |
www.epcnh.org Educational Partnership of Central NH www.nam.org National Association of Manufacturers |