SK> -> *1   THE ANTI-DIPLOMA:  ONE IDEA FOR KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL
SK> ->    Joe Sandoval, principal of Denver's North High School,
SK> -> concocted the "anti-diploma," his way of curtailing North High's
SK> -> dropout problem (AP/CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/7).  Students on the
SK> -> verge of dropping out of school are called to his office for a
SK> -> meeting.  They are presented with the "anti-diploma," a form that
SK> -> calls on them and their guardian to assume full responsibility
SK> -> for leaving school.
SK> ->    From the "anti-diploma:"  "The undersigned guardian and
SK> -> student accept full responsibility for the listed student being a
SK> -> high school dropout.  By signing this disclaimer, I realize that I
SK> -> will not have the necessary skills to survive in the 21st
SK> -> Century."  The form lists the skills -- reading, writing,
SK> -> arithmetic, problem-solving, responsibility and leadership --
SK> -> that the student will not possess.  
    This disclaimer is good for publicity, but any kid shown it knows it's 
nonsense.  He knows he either can read or should know how to long before he 
gets to high school, and thus questions Sandoval's "anti-diploma" for saying 
he won't know how to read unless he graduates.  (Same for arithmetic.)  He 
and his guardian also know that if he doesn't have these skills by the time 
he gets to Sandoval's high school, he is highly unlikely to get them by 
graduation day.
    I question whether kids at that school will take it seriously after 
Sandoval's been doing this 5-10 years.
SK> -> school several years ago opened the Welcome Center to provide
SK> -> after-school education for troubled students.  North High, under
SK> -> Sandoval's guidance, offers "intensive" counseling of the 200
SK> -> students most likely to quit school, reports the paper.
    That is more productive, and reaches a lot more than the four kids he put 
the anti-diploma in front of.
SK> -> changed.  If it's class time, he can offer an alternative school, 
SK> or
SK> -> afternoon classes designed to help students get a GED high
SK> -> school equivalent."
    I question Sandoval's strategy on this one, too.
    Studies show that the GED gets its holders no higher pay.
--- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS])
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