Stay in school kids 'til you get that Diploma

[SteelCityMan786]

Hmmm, and I hear this the day before I go back to school.

http://post-gazette.com/pg/08238/906875-100.stm

Finishing high school called key to reducing violent crime
Monday, August 25, 2008
By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A 10 percent boost in graduation rates at Pennsylvania high schools could lead to the prevention of as many as 150 murders in the state every year, claims a report released today.

The report comes from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a Harrisburg-based advocacy group that is calling for a huge investment in pre-kindergarten programs that prepare young children for school and, according to statistics, increase their chances of reaching graduation.

"If we don't pay now, we'll pay later with increased crime," Allegheny County Sheriff William P. Mullen said this morning during a press conference in front of Westinghouse High School in Homewood.

He was joined by Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, Superior Court Judge Robert E. Colville and Pittsburgh Police Cmdr. Larry Ross.

The Fight Crime report bases its numbers on a 2004 study from two University of California at Berkeley economists, who looked at the relationship between graduation rates and crime.

They found that a 10 percent increase in graduation rates corresponded with a 20 percent reduction in murder and assault rates.

Those percentages, if applied to Pennsylvania's 2006 crime statistics from the FBI, predict 150 fewer murders statewide, including 75 fewer for Philadelphia and 13 for Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh would also see 320 fewer assaults, while the state as a whole would see a decline of 5,900 assaults.

High school dropouts are more than eight times more likely than graduates to end up in jail, the Fight Crime report says.

"The results from not finishing high school are profound," said Bruce R. Clash, Fight Crime's state director.

Pennsylvania's current budget includes $86 million for Pre-K Counts, which will serve 12,000 3- and 4-year-olds.

Mr. Clash praised the program, now in its second year. But he said the state would have to double its spending on pre-kindergarten education to meet demand from school districts and other providers.

Pittsburgh already serves 2,500 students in 101 early childhood programs, Mr. Roosevelt said.

[Dino 6 Rings]

So...if you stay in school, and get a diploma, you have a better chance of getting a job, that keeps you off the streets and away from crime...

how much money was spent on this study? Cause that seems like Freaking Common Sense to me...

[SteelCityMan786]

Originally Posted by Dino 5 Rings

So...if you stay in school, and get a diploma, you have a better chance of getting a job, that keeps you off the streets and away from crime...

how much money was spent on this study? Cause that seems like Freaking Common Sense to me...

Same here. This is common sense, not just a definant a thing that is determined out of no where.

[xfl2001fan]

Common sense proves nothing. That's why the money was spent (and considered by many politicians to be well spent.)

Define common sense and tell me how common sense actually proves anything.

[Godfather]

It's certainly common sense. But you need the study to figure out exactly how much of a difference the diploma makes so you can properly analyze the costs and benefits of different policies.

[revefsreleets]

Look at all that common sense at airports:

"Sir, your shampoo bottle in your carry-on can only be 2 ounces, not 3...you'll need to be detained for 6 hours as a possible threat to national security. Please follow these 11 TSA workers into the interrogation room, and have a nice day!"

The problem is that these studies don't tell anybody HOW to get kids to graduate.

[MACH1]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

Look at all that common sense at airports:

"Sir, your shampoo bottle in your carry-on can only be 2 ounces, not 3...you'll need to be detained for 6 hours as a possible threat to national security. Please follow these 11 TSA workers into the interrogation room, and have a nice day!"

The problem is that these studies don't tell anybody HOW to get kids to graduate.

Sir...That lighter is not allowed to be carried on to the plane, but these book of matches are.

Kids these days don't have the discipline at home to keep them in school. As a parent, lay finger on them and go to prison now days. Back in the day when I went to school the principle had a paddle to beat your a$$ with when ya got out of line. And it was legal.

[xfl2001fan]

Mach1

It wasn't legal when I went to school, but it should have been! If you were to ever meet my kids, ask them if I've whopped on any of their tushes...I guarantee you any one of them that can talk will tell you that they got what was coming to them.

Amazingly enough, if you meet my kids, you'll swear that they're so good, there's no need for me to lay a hand on them.

Coincidence?

[stlrtruck]

Originally Posted by MACH1

Sir...That lighter is not allowed to be carried on to the plane, but these book of matches are.

Kids these days don't have the discipline at home to keep them in school. As a parent, lay finger on them and go to prison now days. Back in the day when I went to school the principle had a paddle to beat your a$$ with when ya got out of line. And it was legal.

And then after you left the office with a sore arse, they called your parents and when you got hom, they spanked you.

[stlrtruck]

Originally Posted by xfl2001fan

Mach1

It wasn't legal when I went to school, but it should have been! If you were to ever meet my kids, ask them if I've whopped on any of their tushes...I guarantee you any one of them that can talk will tell you that they got what was coming to them.

Amazingly enough, if you meet my kids, you'll swear that they're so good, there's no need for me to lay a hand on them.

Coincidence?

Everyone's kids are golden when other people are around. But when it's just the fam, it's a different story.

My daughter is an angel at school, in class at church, with my in-laws (when they're baby sitting), and with many others. Home alone, some days is a holy terror!