An epidemic of high school dropouts is infecting America’s teens, with a whopping 1.2 million students dropping out of high school each year according to DoSomething Organization. But what is causing teens to dropout, and why are Americans considered “unintelligent” online? While the United States is ranked 13th in education internationally, with a literacy rate of 79%, so why are so many American teens still choosing to drop out and fall behind?. Well, this issue can be triggered by a complex web of factors; such as a lack of support at home to the influence of people online, challenges with mental health, and a deeply flawed education system. Despite the overwhelming amount of resources and opportunities for students nowadays, many feel as if they’re incapable of making a difference or invaluable compared to other youth. As college acceptance rates decrease and tuition skyrockets, pursuing higher education starts to feel more and more like a gamble, seemingly unattainable. Piecing all these factors together, this presents the perfect kickstarter to a dropout epidemic.
Now you might be wondering, who is primarily affected by these dropout rates; well it’s particularly minorities. In America, minorities face the challenges of dealing with disproportionately worse educational systems, and less opportunities that these communities receive. Schools in predominantly minority neighborhoods often receive less funding, leading to outdated textbooks, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of staff support within their schools. Many students feel discouraged when the community they live in is set up for them to fail, because of systemic oppression intertwined into them by local and state governments. On top of all of these factors, schools are seeing massive shortages in teachers, and we’re currently facing the defunding of Title I schools. When students aren’t able to connect with their school or lack support and encouragement, it leaves many feeling demotivated. And when all the odds are stacked against you, dropping out feels like the only option. Additionally, Americans are often perceived as “unintelligent” due to poor performance rates in international testing such as the Programme for International Student Assessment, where students have been found to perform below the international standard in subjects like math and science. This stereotype could also potentially be fueled by the takeover of superficial American gossip on social media, rather than intellectual conversations and debates. Furthermore, a mass spread of misinformation and a general lack of awareness about global issues continues to leave Americans to be seen as ignorant.
In conclusion, the epidemic of highschool dropouts is a complex issue driven by systemic inequalities, lack of fair educational opportunity, and socio-economic challenges faced by many students. But, why should Americans continue to let them be seen as uneducated, when we’re perfectly capable of performing on the same levels as students of other nations. America is home to some of the greatest and most widely renowned institutions, and offers unparalleled opportunities for so many American youth. To combat both the dropout crisis and negative stereotypes of Americans, we need to fix our system– it’s crucial to reform our public education systems, address the systematic inequalities, and encourage an intellectually engaged youth. Education is the backbone of our nation, and without students and teachers, we wouldn’t be one of the most advanced countries in the world.
