Deseret News | Minority students' graduation rates slide

Reader comments
Minority students' graduation rates slide

Joe Moe | 10:52 p.m. Oct. 2, 2009

Two comments (maybe more once I get my wind up)....

First, the "glaring" differences are slight enough to easily be anomalies when you look at the actual numbers (2% change?!). However, the fact that the 2-3 percent seemed to exist across all minority groups reinforces the point that this IS a concern and should be addressed. But the sky is not falling.

Second, look for the stats to be much worse in a couple of years. Schools are losing funding, programs, and resources right now. Things will get worse before they ever get better.

It's clear to educators that a two-punch approach is the only way to be successful. 1) better interventions with the kids in the school; 2) enhanced efforts to work with, train, and involve minority parents.

Regarding Hispanics in particular, I know we can make excuses about lack of parental involvement, lack of language skills, etc. But at the end of the day, these kids ARE in our schools and WILL BE on our streets, so we have to step up and help them be more successful, for selfish reasons if not philanthropic ones.

Worse than presented | 1:40 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

The numbers are probably worse than presented. Utah has a history of concealing disparities in educational achievement.

SJ Bobkins | 3:33 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

Since the Great Society, the federal government has spend trillions to try and equalize the races, in income levels, job available, and learning. I haven't a clue what the feds can do that they haven't done. If I were to compare the education I received vs that of a newly graduated high school senior, I'd have to say she was short changed, learned less but got better grades than I did. The dumbing down of the grade system is justified so the "no one gets left behind," and the really good performers can earn the previously unheard of A+'s. Out of the number of high school juniors taking the SAT, only 50% of the black students take the test, and out of that number only 25% score a "passing" score. The results are the same in Hispanic populations, both in Utah and every other state but those with populations too small to measure. I'm sure the Messiah will allocate more billions to help everyone measure up, and I'm certain the results will be similar to those in the past. Could it be that the answer STARTS AT HOME, not at school?

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 3:41 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

The state legislature will be happy to hear this. White kids passing rates went up to 91%. Minorities went down. Just as they planned.

They all went home | 4:46 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

i think that one of the reasons is that they have all gone back to Mexico. That is one of the reasons they don't graduate as much. it is good that we have strciter border control actions. that is one of the good things about chafetz and why I hope that he runs for president.

Money | 8:12 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

I know, we need more money in the system. Money is always the answer to the teachers union and the great politicos. Redistribution of wealth will make everybody smarter. The real answer is, and can only be found in the home. Parents taking time to help children learn and understand. Loving their children enough to give them time.

Anonymous | 9:34 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

You CAN live on 8 dollars an hour. The result is you can't support a wife or children, own a car or home (in Utah at least) and you will be required to work till you are 80. Slack off for your government paid education and you screw yourself out of being able to afford more than a 'basic life'. It is also getting to the point that a High school degree is meaningless. You need a college degree to do anything these days.

Tab L. Uno | 9:50 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

In reviewing the history of the federal American support of families, like with the Great Society, or with Bill Clinton leaving a budget surplus, and even today, just when the opportunity to provide for billions of dollars to support families and their students occurs, either a military conflict, World War II, Vietnam, and now Iraq diverts even billions of dollars more away from domestic programs. And the American experiment with federal support of education has never really had the focus on equality versus equal opportunity. Up to now a good portion for federal dollars went to increase opportunity for educational quality but not equality. Thus federal efforts to focus on actual "institutional" discrimination rather than providing the individual student with opportunities has not ever had a strong emphasis in combating the inequality of minority student performance. In actuality, a truly concerted federal program of effective support for minority students has yet to be enacted by Congress.

Minority Grads? | 10:07 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009

Its tough to graduate when your culture speaks another language......and doesn't respect our language enough to even learn it!!

HMT | 12:36 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

I was bothered by the idea that school needs to be more "fun". Students today expect to be entertained, not taught. The responsibility for learning should be placed mostly on the student. I can learn from the driest, dullest text book without an instructor if I am really motivated to learn. Students whose parents are committed to education are more committed themselves. Quit blaming everybody else and take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!

Sad news for dropouts | 12:49 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

I work in the schools and I sure see a lot of racist teachers who refuse to help students who have English as a Second Language situations. These teachers bring their racists politics into the schools. I feel so sorry for their students who speak another language at home. The teachers do not help them at all and they are left behind. Many of the "English as a second language" clases are taught in dreary corners of the school by some overworked, part-time (no benefits) teacher. Our program is in what used to be a janitors closet. No windows, no desks. Just chairs. I see these children failing and this report proves just how hard it is to be one of these children in Utah. No wonder they drop out. It's time for racist teachers to leave their opinions at home and teach all the students in their classes! How can they tell if the child is legal or illegal? I'm not just talking students of Latino heritage either, our state is a melting pot of cultures. Our laws are pretty clear about who teachers are supposed to teach.

Nathan S. | 1:53 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

I'm completely invested in the education of my children. I hope my kids have great teachers, who are dedicated to their jobs, love the kids and want to see them succeed. However, I ultimately accept responsibility for my children and their educational success. At the end of the day it's the family that needs to push and encourage kids. We don't to fund more programs, what society needs to understand is they need to work for things themselves.

utah | 2:56 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

in a state where the athletes are payed millions and treated like they cured cancer..tickets are outrageous...and the real heroes toil ...the teachers are paid nill!! we will pay in many areas as the streets will be over running with the drop outs and the loss of many fine teachers to the surrounding states!

Anonymous | 10:25 p.m. Oct. 3, 2009

More money? Nope. Education accounts for almost 50% of the entire state budget.

Dumb down the kids? That is already going on and it has to stop.

Learn english or get left behind? Yes. I do not agree with teaching required skills in a native tongue such as spanish in order to pass these kids. They are here in America and here we conduct business in english.

Accept the reality? We better or we will be left with generational ignorance and poverty. If you do not want to learn english to make a better life then go back to where you came from. America needs the dedication of those who will build her up with determination and hard work. America does not need carpet baggers who only take. We are 100% Americans. There are no hyphens here. We are all in the boat together.

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