Michigan News
(2009-07-27)
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Dr. Derrick Fries started his career as a teacher.
He's worked in poor school districts and wealthier school districts.
Fries has been tracking the results of the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements since they went into effect three years ago.
He predicts the tighter standards will lead to a 300% increase in the dropout rate.
Fries says that's because in elementary school there is flexibility, and different learning styles and abilities are taken into consideration.
"Then all of a sudden they come to the high school, and we say wait a minute. There's no choice anymore. You have to take these sets of classes, and there's no wiggle room,'" Fries explains.
Fries says it's not fair to expect all students will be on an academic track. And he believes America undervalues other career paths - especially trades, such as electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists and the culinary arts.
Fries is scheduled to testify on a house bill that would add a career and technical pathway to a high school diploma. Fries believes students deserve that option.
"There's no one out there advocating for them," he says. "As a matter of fact, they're almost looked at as a disposable bunch of groups. It's okay if we dispose of them. So they need someone that's at least trying to see them through high school, and there isn't anyone that's actively doing that."
Fries says it's clear very early who are the haves and who are the have-nots:
"So what's going to happen is you're going to have this incredible bunch of kids that have lost their connections with education, may not want to do their GED, and some are going to make poor decision," he says. "And we know that some of those folks are going to end up in the Department of Corrections. About 80% of those folks don't have a high school diploma."
Fries says if we ignore these students, and put more obstacles in their path, everyone will pay the price.
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