Detroit Free Press editorial: Should Michigan raise the compulsory school age from 16 to 18?

The real question is why are students leaving school before graduation? Although
I believe that as a community it is our responsibility to compel children to
attend school until graduation or at least to the age of 18, forcing attendance
without supporting the students' education and growth by attending to individual
challenges is a waste of time and educational dollars, and fosters frustration
in the student as well as the teachers. Knowing why a student needs to leave or
wants to leave gives us the groundwork to serve that student properly and
encourage success after high school.

Kathryn Bedikian, 44, Wyandotte, nurse-midwife, U-M Women's Hospital, and Wyandotte school board member

I agree that we should value education so much in Michigan that the dropout age should be raised to 18. However, before I would vote for this change, I would want to see how the state would pay for this. School districts are already pinching every penny. Trying to keep a 16-year-old in traditional school is futile and costly. There would need to be an alternative setting for these students so they could continue their education.

Patricia Kolodziejski Kilby, 55, Rochester Hills, teacher

Schools must offer different curriculums for different students. Some brilliant
kids quit at 16 because they are bored and others could stay until they are 25
and never get it. Readin', writin' and 'rithmatic are the basics needed to
function in our society; however, all kids need to get training to get a job.
Schools must offer something for all kids.

Bill Belcher, 67, Farmington Hills, mortgage loan officer

Keeping kids in school is a valiant goal, but if it means tolerating the
atrocious behavior of a virtual prisoner, it just isn't worth it. Every defiant
student poisons a classroom. Let them go their own way, and they'll often come
back to school anyway, more cooperative this time.

Daniel Propson, 29, Detroit, high school English teacher

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