A serious look at school dropout rates

Re “Back to Basics: Why Does High School Fail So Many?” Jan. 29

I was an educator in L.A. Unified for six years; clearly there are no easy solutions to the problems facing schools. However, radical change is necessary. We need to look to other countries to see what programs they have found successful, such as Britain, where there are multi-track options for students. Some students are on a university track, while others take classes in various vocational or skill-driven areas.

We have to face the fact that not all students are meant for college; few are brave enough to admit that. However, I believe you would see fewer dropouts if students could find something they were good at in a vocational setting, starting as early as middle school. They would experience something that has been lacking in their academic career so far -- success.

DAN DUFFY

El Segundo

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The problem with high schools can be summarized by your headline: “Why Does High School Fail So Many?” The Times perpetuates the culture that schools somehow work in isolation. The child and the parents are still the most important factors in successful education. Yet the article’s focus is on how schools fail children. Those of us in education know that, on the road to success, personal responsibility trumps blaming every time. A more appropriate headline would read, “Why Do So Many Fail High School?”

RON MOSSLER

Northridge

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Kudos to The Times for taking a serious look at the reasons for the appallingly high dropout rate in L.A. Unified while avoiding the usual scapegoating of teachers and the teachers union.

As an L.A. Unified teacher, I have never failed a student. Students almost always fail themselves through chronic truancy. Until the truancy issue is tackled with seriousness by parents, schools, community organizations, the city and L.A. Unified, we will see little improvement in the district’s graduation rates.

MICHAEL STRYER

Pacific Palisades