Law to force school until 18

$100M plan includes apprenticeships, job placements
Only way to stem 30-per-cent dropout rate, McGuinty says


RICHARD BRENNAN
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

HUNTSVILLE—A strict law forcing students to stay in school until they are 18 is coming soon, Premier Dalton McGuinty says.

McGuinty, speaking at the annual Liberal policy conference yesterday, said it's the only way to deal with Ontario's troubling 30-per-cent dropout rate.

"Soon, we will introduce one of the most important pieces of our plan, a bill that will require our young people to keep learning until age 18 in a classroom or an apprenticeship or a job placement program," the Premier told the 400 delegates.

The proposed legislation is expected late this year or early next. Currently, Ontario students must stay in school until they are 16 years old.

Education Minister Gerard Kennedy said the new requirement, to begin as pilot projects in January in a number of unspecified school districts, would cost about $70 million a year and affect more than 25,000 students, plus an additional $30 million for expanded apprenticeship programs.

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I asked a few teens about this last night and they were very supportive of this new law. It seems dropping out is copping out.

stop the assault on the ESL students first. There is no way that students are going to want to stay in school if they fail the Gr. 10 literacy test. Believe me - I've talked to many ESL students who are being screwed by this ridiculous test. Scrap that, improve the cirriculum and then introduce this law.

What do they plan to do with individuals are compelled to attend school, but cut classes, don't turn in homework and reports, are disruptive, and perhaps vandalize the schools in protest? They simply don't want to be in school. Forcing people to do things for their own good is usually for someone else's good more than the targeted demographic.

And what exactly will the punishment be for offenders? They ruled out jail (for now) and nondescript fines. How much? If the fine is negligible, then it's more like paying a fee for license to stay out of school. If it's excessive, then it's an attack on personal freedom and civil rights.

....but many kids quit school because they run into minor problems - there was never an immediate consequence for dropping out. At least this new law will give them pause and perhaps a little help.

Obviously there are kids who are going to do whatever they want in spite of legislation, but this law could catch the kids who are merely in trouble and see dropping out as an option.

but many kids quit school because they run into minor problems

... because the schools simply don't provide the services they need.

Expanding vocational programs and apprenticeships is a great idea -- and is really quite necessary in view of the fact that there is a real and growing shortage of skilled tradespeople. And skilled trades actually do provide good incomes.

The trick will be to avoid "streaming" -- directing working-class kids into the vocational programs, as was always the case in the past. Unfortunately, efforts to counteract that problem resulted in some kids not getting appropriate services, because really, not everybody wants or needs to be studying English literature and higher mathematics year after year -- because they don't enjoy it, they aren't good at it, and there are other things that they do need to learn.

What if you graduate at 17 like I did?? :P

I never finished high school myself ... went straight to university at 16, after grade 12, way back before any talk of doing away with grade 13.

I kinda suspect that the standard will be age *or* school completion. ;)

That's a REAL good idea