Evening star., 1954-10-24
Teen ToIk
BY Kite Turmoil

John wants to drop out Of
school. His first report card.
In senior high. was ''unsatis-
factory. His parents sent
back this note to his teacher:
Swat him all you want to.
John just sits in class. never
opens his mouth or book. It's
as If he weren't there. He
isn't reallyl
Johns clothes are as 'beat-
up" as his school spirit. Just
once, he'd like to have some
spending money In the pocket
Of new jeans. John is IA. He
wants to quit school; go to
work. on his own. Should he
be allowed to?
Speaking of young teen
ayers that are in Johns
quandary, Mr.. Margaret Mead,
ssociate curator of the Amer
lean Museum of Natural His
tory, dropped this "thunder-
bolt" At a national PTA con-
ference in Atlantic City, DR..
Mead said:
youngsters unsuited for
school, obviously unhappy,
should be permitted to work
when IA years old. Let them
come back If they want to,
later on, and ! think many will
want to after a brush with the
world. But first release them,
because they are the ones who
are comprising the education
of those who want to be in
school. Parents. teachers
should encourage the remain
ing pupils to go on to higher
education"
Don't Slam School Door
To free captive students"
makes sense, some agree, but
wait, teen-ager! Don't close
that school door behind you
until you have a look at the
other sides to this problem.
The fact that SO per cent who
enter high school do not re-
main to graduate, by overall
average, is of big concern to
your school, community and
country.
So your teen etiquette editor
sent questionnaires, far and
wide, to ask educators and
school administrators to
answer this question from
teen-agers: why Stay In
School?"
"Talk to those who did drop
out and they will soon set you
straight, Paul S. Smith. pres
ident of Whittier College, ad-
vises. "A diploma is legal
evidence that you finished the
race. The world wants this
type of person, over others"
AS Albert C. Jacobs, presi-
dent Of Trinity College, Hart
ford, Conn, sees it:
"There is no question about
the value of education in per-
sonal happiness and income
throughout life. The advan-
tages through life of a high
school diploma can be counted
in earnings. Surveys show that
college students earn twice as
much as the average"
You do have to complete
high school requirements If,
later, you decide on college.
ITO get on your own. with
out adequate schooling. starts
you faster but ill-prepares you
to advance in any field" notes
DR.. o. F. Kraushaar. president
Of Goucher College, Maryland.
"Why pass up your chance for
a more satisfying life, a better
social position, as well as
higher earning power?"
Trend Is Up
Remember, the trend is
toward hi'g her education.
Those now IS years old aver
aged less than 8 years Of
school. Those now 35 to IS
had over 8 years. Those now
in their early 20s went to
school IL years as an average!
You teen-agers will have to
compete with over SO million
who already have their high
school degrees!
IF, 10 to Is years from
now, you'll be satisfied that
you didn't finish high school,
okay, quit any time" says
Vergil s. Fosdall. dean of stu
dents. Lewis and Clark Col
lege. Portland, Greg. Later.
lack of diploma from high
school implies that you did
not have the ability or were
not willing to work hard
enough. Few go back to finish
later in life. That is why SO
per cent would be better of
If they stayed to graduate
'Go just as far in school as
X your ability will take you"
says DR.. William Quillian, jr.,
president of Randolph Macon
College, Lynchburg, Va.
Modern school systems make
1t. possible for any student to
finish high school If he really