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Study: Mentors could reduce school dropouts
5/17/2008 | Today's Georgetown Times Online Edition
Published on 5/6/2008
By Dedric Bonds
dbonds@gtowntimes.com
A study of Georgetown County's high school drop-out rate concludes that local children would benefit by having mentors to help them achieve better grades and stay out of trouble.
The study, commissioned by members of the Georgetown County Family YMCA, members of the Georgetown County School District and concerned citizens, gathered data from October 2007 to the present in reaching its conclusions.
"This is a starting off point," says Amy Brennan, executive director of the Georgetown County Family YMCA, "not an ending point," in reference to the collaborative effort of several Georgetown agencies to combat high school recidivism (or dropout rates).
Attempts at combating high school dropout rates in Georgetown County are not entirely new.
"Every three or four years, Alan (Houghton) calls me and says, 'We need to do something about this or that.' Well, this time, it's high school dropout rates in the county," says Brennan. "Over the years, his ideas have brought us S. O. S., Friendship Place, the YMCA, and now this effort. All for the notion that 'if it's good for the community.'"
South Carolina had an estimated 32,000 dropouts from the Class of 2007. According to the State of South Carolina School Report Card, Georgetown County Public Schools had a 2.2 percent dropout rate for the 2005-06 school year, increasing to 3.5 percent for the 2006-07 school year. The most recent state dropout rate available averaged 4.0 percent the 2006-07.
A school-by-school comparison shows:
* Andrews: 2006: 3.2%; 2007: 6.1%
* Carvers Bay: 2006: 1.0%; 2007: 0.6%
* Georgetown: 2006: 3.5%; 2007: 4.0%
* Waccamaw: 2006: 0.0%; 2007: 1.8%
* District: 2006: 2.2%; 2007: 3.5%
Brian Taylor, lead consultant for the study, realizes this is a complex issue. The issues are not exclusive to Georgetown. These dropout trends are mirrored in state and national levels as well.
"There is no one clear, concise reason surrounding dropouts and what factors affect a young person's decision to drop out of school," Taylor says. "There are many contributing or risk factors associated with dropouts that include the individual, the family, the school system and the community itself."
While it may not be clear as to what may contribute to one dropping out of school, the one issue that is clear is the decision to drop out is not a "one-time" quick decision, but actually evolves over a period of time.
"It is not a clear cut decision. Over time, students have lost interest, or tuned out," says Taylor. "Dropouts occur most often between the eighth and 10th grades."
Other factors can and may contribute to a students decision to drop out of school. Those factors includes parents' educational levels, whether or not a child has the environment to grow and a communities involvement in the life of its children.
Communities in Schools identifies the "Five Basics" that every child needs to be a healthy, successful person. It's critical for children to have the first three of the five at a very early age. They include:
* A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult.
* A safe place to learn and grow.
* A healthy start and a healthy future.
* A marketable skill to use upon graduation.
* A chance to give back to peers and community.
"We are failing kids as a community," said one person interviewed in Georgetown County.
According to the study provided about Georgetown County, "the implications dropouts have on a community are tremendous. High school dropouts are 3.5-times more likely to be arrested and eight times more likely to be incarcerated than high school graduates. A dropout can expect to make $9,200 less per year than a high school graduate. Some estimates show this figure to be closer to $12,000 less per year."
The high school graduate rate is calculated based on the percentage of original ninth-graders earning standard high school diplomas who graduated in four years or fewer, excluding students with disabilities on a certificate plan.
Graduation rates by high school:
* Andrews: 2006, 72.%; 2007: 66.3%
* Carvers Bay: 2006: 84.2%; 2007: 85.4%
* Georgetown: 2006: 78.4%; 2007: 78.7%
* Waccamaw: 2006: 93.3%; 2007: 89.5%
* District: 2006: 81.2%; 2007: 78.8%
* Statewide: 2006: 73.9%; 2007: 70.9%
The study recommends mentoring as a means to reduce the county's drop-out rate.
"The needs of young people are so great today that it takes many more resources than it did decades ago to positively make a difference," the study says. "Schools and educators simply cannot do it alone. There is a great need for a community of concerned and caring adults to help fill the voids that many young people have."
Author Bill Milliken points out: "Programs don't change kids -- relationships do. Every child needs one adult who's irrationally committed to his or her future." Milliken says mentors are the best mechanism to provide a one-on-one, caring relationship with an adult. Mentors may serve as a "bridge" to help connect young people with adults who are willing to listen and be available to them. It is also one of the best ways to overcome differences among people and families throughout communities.
The report offered these statistics:
* Mentored young people are 46 percent less likely to get involved with drugs -- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.
* Of students who were mentored, 59 percent had improvements in their grades -- Career Beginnings.
* Mentored students are 86 percent more likely to pursue higher levels of education -- Proctor and Gamble.
"Potential manpower to support this effort could come from local retirees in the Georgetown County area. Many of these individuals have a multitude of talents, experiences and abilities that could benefit young people and the community as a whole. In addition, links to potential funding sources include but are not limited to the South Carolina After School Alliance and the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.
A second recommendation of the study included a concept called "energens." The concept focuses on the development of a small business incubator operated by pairing seniors with young people. The main objective is to build and teach relationships, confidence and responsibility while exposing youngsters to the workings of the free enterprise system.
A third recommendation involves expanding recreational opportunities and after-school activities for young people and families throughout Georgetown County. "Recreational activities help develop decision-making skills and positive relationships," the study says. "Participation leads to well-balanced, healthy and physically active children and families. Recreation has positive impacts on our society by enhancing communities, bringing neighbors together, encouraging safer and cleaner neighborhoods as well as improving a community's image and socioeconomic status.
"There is no need for us to reinvent the wheel," said Taylor. "We should take advantage of the group. Let's build on this to go forward, and with the community behind it, it will be successful."
