Cornwall_2016_02_17

Young people are much more likely to grow into fulfilled adults if they stay in school.

Supervise and support your children and help them become independent in their school work.

The important role of parents

Staying in school benefits everyone

The commitment of parents to their chil- dren’s schooling has a positive influence on their children’s success. Evidence shows that constant encouragement to stay with their studies has a greater im- pact on children than their socioeconomic status. Consequently, as parents, you can do a lot to prevent your children from dropping out of school. It’s also important to supervise thempro- perly by establishing a homework routine and to support them emotionally. You can also help themdevelop their organizational skills. All these approaches will help your children stay in school. You’ll also contribute to the success of your children by ensuring that they receive as much intellectual sti- mulation as possible. For example, initiate discussions with them, and interest them in reading as early in their lives as possible. Give them the opportunity to come into

contact with a variety of educational and cultural experiences. If necessary, don’t hesitate to resort to outside help; it’ll be as good for you as it is for your children. To keep them from dropping out of school, it is also important that you show your children how much importance you place on education. How? By adopting a positive attitude towards the school, the teachers and the school work. You should also get involved in your children’s school life (volunteer work, committees, events, etc.) and collaborate with their teachers. Lastly, it’s good to have high — but realistic — expectations for your children. Displaying low expectations for their future or a negative perception of their abilities could have an adverse impact on their atti- tude towards school, particularly in terms of their motivation.

Did you know that dropping out of school has a real socio-economic cost? A high dropout rate impacts society, but it also affects individuals too. Young people who leave school before receiving their high school diplomas are seriously penalized as non-graduates; they typically have a lower annual income than graduates, more chances of being unemployed and a shorter life expectancy. That is why it is so important to encourage young people to stay with their studies, from early childhood right through university, in order to foster their success and motivate them to stick with it. By persevering, young people put all the chances on their side. They will have better job prospects and thus be able to find work that enables them to

achieve their objectives in life.They are also more likely to be successful in both their professional and personal lives. In short, they are more inclined to become adults who are fulfilled and satisfied with their lives. Staying in school is just as beneficial to society as it is for the students themselves. It ensures a constant supply of workers and a skilled work force. It also helps create a thriving economy peopled by citizens who are active and involved in their communi- ties. In other words, dropping out of school shouldn’t be considered as a problemconfi- ned to the academic world. We all benefit from looking at education as a fundamental value in our society, so let’s encourage our young people to stay in school.

The Journal Cornwall

15

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

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