OC HIGH / STUDENT NEWS & VIEWS

OC High asks: Should teens be required to go to school?

“They should go to school, because (otherwise) our whole country would be a bunch of uneducated ignorant idiots.” Erika Sandino, 17 senior, Trabuco Hills

“What else are they going to do? It’s not like they’re going to get a job staying at home.” Erick Moreno, 16 junior, Santiago

“If you don’t, you’re going to be stupid.” Bill Finn, 15 freshman, Los Alamitos

“Can you think what the world would be like if it was run by people with an eighth-grade education?” Tammy Bennett, 17 senior, Mater Dei

“No. The people who don’t want an education just sit at school and do nothing anyway.” Chien Chu, 17 junior, El Modena

“If teen-agers are forced to go to school, they won’t put in any effort and they will waste the government’s money. Instead, the government should give a better education to people who want to go to school.” Biren Metha, 17 senior, Ocean View

“No. I think it is a student’s choice whether he or she wishes to learn.” Sujit Pradham, 16 junior, University

“Yes. Aren’t Americans stupid enough?” Robert Solmer, 15 junior, Huntington Beach

“If you are stupid enough not to go to school, you shouldn’t be there in the first place.” Yi-Hsien Lin, 17 senior, El Dorado

“Yes, or else we would have a lot more people on welfare because today’s job market doesn’t accept uneducated people.” Aaron Sauser freshman, Mission Viejo

“It’s not just the education but . . . part of the basic growing experience of life and becoming an adult.” Samm Prather, 15 sophomore, Esperanza

“Students who don’t want to attend school make it harder for those who do want to attend. They spend more time disturbing the class than learning.” Diane Lopez, 15 junior, Loara

“If they’re not required to go to school, the people who need it most won’t go.” Marc Corredor, 17 senior, Marina

“School is the only way to expand the minds of today’s youth.” Mark Shimizu, 17 junior, Villa Park

“Yes, they should. If they don’t, later on they’ll regret it.” Tim Wasylyszyn, 17 junior, Kennedy

“I don’t think so because they are mature enough to make their own decision.” Carol Hromadka, 16 junior, Capistrano valley

“At least until they are 18, and until they can make their own decisions. Hey . . . then they can screw up if they want, but most of the time they are old enough to make the decision at 18.” Justin McKibben, 18 senior, Corona del Mar

“Yes, because if they don’t, a bunch of liberals can get a hold of them and turn them into little liberals. Then they won’t like Rush Limbaugh anymore.” Randy Babcock, 17 junior, El Modena

“They should have the choice. If they want to screw up their lives, then let them. Without an education, life would be much harder.” Mike Anceta, 17 senior, Los Amigos

“Teens need some type of influence or guidance about life, and school provides that environment. I’m not saying that school is the perfect way to achieve this, but it is a good way to acquire a general view.” William Chen, 15 sophomore, Los Alamitos

“Teens should go to school because it gives them basic knowledge about life, and they can take career courses in high school, depending on which line of work they want to go into.” Jakub Pietrowski, 18 senior, Ocean View

“Education is the key to success . . . and we need positive role models.” Jalaine Burndahl, 18 senior, El Dorado

“I don’t think it should be required if the student is doing something that’s educational, like studying abroad or doing a home independent study.” Jennifer D’Chuna, 18 senior, Irvine

“Yes, but there shouldn’t be a penalty if a student does not attend every day. If they graduate, that’s all that matters.” Sarah Shimko, 18 senior, Huntington Beach

“Teens should be required to attend school because they need to learn the skills to survive in the future.” Emily Gibson, 16 junior, University

“I think it’s a good idea because it gets them prepared for the future. Especially these days, teen-agers need knowledge to make it in the world!” Laurisa Woessner, 17 senior, Esperanza

“How do you expect to make a difference without an education?” Laura Schiesl junior, Mission Viejo

“They might not realize it now, but in the future they will need a high school diploma to get ahead in the work force.” Brady Park, 16 junior, Trabuco Hills

“A teen under the age of 18 should be required to go to school until he or she is 18 and considered an adult. Then they can decide whether or not they want to stay. Otherwise, all minors would stop going to school just because they want to play on their Sega or something. It would be a waste, and it would be very difficult for them to make up lost time.” Nora DerVartanian, 17 senior, Fountain Valley

“If we weren’t required to go, no one would go, and everyone needs to learn. Without education we couldn’t advance in technology or anything else.” Aimee Kenney, 17 junior, Brea Olinda

“It’s a democracy. Students should have a choice whether they want to go to school or not.” John Nguyen, 15 freshman, Santiago

“Be cool, stay in school.” Seth Andre, 14 freshman, Marina

“Yes, because you won’t be able to survive in the world without an education.” Lee Ann LePage, 14 freshman, Rosary

“An education is a person’s best shot at a happy and successful life, but there are still many teen-agers who don’t understand that. It is the responsibility of our society to make sure that everyone has the best chance possible to make something of him or herself through an education.” Marti Mittman, 17 senior, Corona del Mar

“With technology expanding at the rate it is, most kids would not be able to compete with kids from foreign countries. Without it, our kids of the future are doomed.” Jamila Thomas, 16 junior, Cypress

“Companies don’t hire uneducated people. Many would be jobless and soon homeless. Taxpayers would then have to pay higher taxes for those on welfare.” Thao Tran, 14 freshman, Los Amigos

“I don’t think it’s other people’s decision whether a person should go to school or not. But as long as the opportunity is given to us, I think we shouldn’t waste it.” Mina Shiratori, 17 junior, Villa Park

“If they were not forced to go, then a lot of them wouldn’t. I think everyone should be educated to a certain extent.” Kelly Elrod, 17 senior, Capistrano Valley

“I believe teens should be required to go to school. It should be the parents’ responsibility to see that their child receives a good education.” Mark Wasylyszyn, 17 junior, Kennedy