Should the age for children to leave school increase?

Hi titchy1231, I guess in reality it all really depends on the children themselves, i am sure that there are some children out there that would like more school whereas others will be happy to see the end of school and so will want to leave as early as possible. I agree that they could go to either college or get a job but here it seems that many just want to claim benefits, walk along the streets in gangs and this is such a waste of government benefits and a waste to them, a shame they can't be forced to continue with schooling rather than just sitting around doing nothing at all productive. Many things do also come down to money, especially when going to university, it is so hard to get a job, even with grate grades or even with hands on experience, but so many children do need to grow up, things like smoking, drinking and car licence ages should be increased, children are still too young and immature. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic, much appreciated.

Hi titchy1231, I think that if they were forced to stay in school for an extra couple of years then the differences will be those of two different things. 1. If they are to leave later at 18 rather than at 16 then they should be more sensible and also have better grades and be more mature about life so they may at that age want to get a job more than they would at the age of 16 where they still want the fun and to just hang out with friends. 2. If they were to stay in school for an extra couple of years then we would save more money in them being their than we would them being on benefits in them extra 2 years. This may make a big difference when you look at how many children upto the age of 18 claim benefits, this would save our country a lot of money.

i think that with the kids you say that just want to claim benefits, what makes them do any different after leaving schook at 18 instead of 16. i dont think it would make any difference at all

It's a wonderful topic! My pleasure. I'm not sure the age, but I'm sure there is one, I'll research it and let you know. I had a friend several years ago that had to present a GED to get her license and she was 18 or 19 years old.

Hi JenInTN, I like the fact that them dropping out early would stop them from getting a drivers licence, but surely this is only for a certain length of time? I agree that it really is important for children to stay in school, and to actually learn. I do like the fact that in your state they have to do well or would lose their driving privledges, this seems to be a good incentive for them to try hard, especially as many children would love to be able to drive, i wish more places were like your state. I think that in many places there can be nothing for children to do, to ban them from the mall does sound excessive, i guess i could see their reasons but at the end of the day they do have a right to go there, and much safer there than in many other places like the one you mentioned, we always want to make sure that our children are safe. Leaving school early is not a good thing really. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.

Hi sid556, I think that at the age of 16 is so young, they are so immature really and there is so much more they could lear. It could be argued that if they wanted to further educate themselves then they could go to college or university, but what about those that just want to be lazy and sponge off the government and watse their lives? That is good tax payers money going to waste, many children need to grow up and wake up to reality, only few do. I agree that a lot of parents nowadays do give up, so do the kids. I think that if children do have a choice then many wouldn't want to go to school, there are many there now that can't be bothered and do distract others, there needs to be more fun in the way they are taught, to make things more interesting, yet it is boring. I agree that as an adult we can see the importance of a good education, but by then it could be late, children need to realise this early so that they can make a good life for themselves as they are growing up. A shame as to what happened with your daughter, it shows that now she is an adult she does regret what she did and what she lost out on. In school we do suffer peer pressure, we follow some people and this can effect the way we live our life. I messed around a lot at school and didn't get the best of grades. After school i went to college and really did work my backside off, i also had different part time jobs to give me experience in different fields of work. Now i have plenty of experience and i have great grades behind me, it took a while but so glad i went straight to college and made something of myself. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.

Hi jazel_juan, It seems that the difference between our two countries is really that as you say, here kids can still get jobs when they leave school whereas in your country they can't and so have to continue in further education. Here we have like playschool/nursery from the ages of 2 up3 upwards, then primary school, secondary school, then the children choose what to do. They can leave school not get a job but claim benefits and get money from there, or they could get a job in which may not be well paid as they won't have many grades behind them, then there are the others that go onto college and others that after college go to university. Again even with great grades it does not mean they have a certainty of getting a good job, or even a job as there are few and far between. In a way i guess companies like to have people with less experience as they will not have to pay as much as those that are qualified and have been to college and/or university. Money makes a big difference in this world, it's a shame really but that is life. Thankyou so very much for your rersponse to this topic.

Hi sizzle3000, Where is it that you are? I guess that if you do graduate at 16 then you must have learned all you need to, and would seriously have to of worked hard for this. I do like the fact though that you could continue until 21, gives you a good chance to graduate. There does seem to be many children that don't want to be at school, maybe it is so boring, surely it could be made more interesting? I agree that they could find ways to make sure that they are not there, i mean who can force someone to go somewhere they don't want to? Even if they do go they can't be forced to learn can they?. I agree that we do need more teachers that care, to some it is just a job that they get paid for, to others they love what they do and they do it for love and to help others learn, i also agree that parents can make a difference, i feel that here though many children don't seem to take notice of what their parents say to them, i feel that many children don't have a lot of respect at all, not just for their parents but for adults in general. The attention that children do or don't get from their parents can and possibly does make a difference to the way the children live their lives, we do learn really from our parents, so if they don't care then we may not as kids. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.

Hi mirsya, I like the fact that children can leave at around 17 - 18 years of age, i do feel that 18 is about right, then they can choose whether they want more education or if they want to find a job. Here once they pass 16 they then can go to college and then after that is university. The costs of university is so expensive though which is what does put some people off, ok if you have a rich family that can pay your fees. Great to know that they have special schools which can help them develop new skills which could help them find a job. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.

Hi picjim, I think 16 years old is way too young here yet where you are it can be as little as 15?, that is ridiculous really, so very very young. I do like though that they have to do a 2 year bridge course. Great to see that they more than likely have to do the under graduation course as this keeps them in the education system that bit longer. I certainly do agree with you in that by the ages of around 20, 21, they then should be mature enough. I agree that with all that time in education you certainly would expect them to want a decent job out of it, otherwise they will not see the point of staying in education for so long. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.

Hi frontvisions101, Many children do get bored easily, especially when in their teens, there is not much around for them but it is better to have an education than to be walking around the streets or playing on the pc or consoles, etc. If they stay there until they are 18 they will be a more mature person, they could get better grades, this could lead to more knowledge and better jobs, it keeps them out of claiming benefits to sit on their backsides all day. I agree that not everything can be learned inside school, you can still learn outside of school, like hands on experience of a job, or learn as life just carries on. However there are many kids that just leave school and sit on their backsides doing nothing, not wanting to work, atleast they may want to work should they get better grades, or want college if they get better grades. All children are different. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.

Hi, jefferyallen, I think that if children did stay in school a bit longer then they could be better educated, it keeps them off the streets or just sat at home all day, plus if they have more time at school they would have the time to have a bit of fun at school and make things more interesting so they grab their pupils attention, rather than the children wanting to fall asleep. I agree that if we can reach the levels and understand what children want then this could help them stay there longer, but kids like fun so we would need to entertain them by showing them different things that keeps there attention. Thankyou so very much for your response to this topic.