The Phony War to “Keep Them in School”

Abstract

America is currently engaged in an expensive campaign to prevent students from dropping out. Superficial appeal aside, this quest is pure foolishness, ignores elementary economics and what is actually possible. The campaign will not help the students or the nation. If everyone had a high school degree employers would not take it seriously and schools would soon be exposed for just pushing ill-equipped students out the door. Proponents never examine the net benefits of this campaign and just assume that handing out diplomas in and of itself suffice independent of learning. Actually, many youngsters act rationally in jumping ship. Far superior alternatives exist to accomplishing the identical goals. Moreover, data on dropout rates are woefully incomplete and powerful incentives exist for deceit given minimal supervision and monetary incentives to make the numbers. The justifying research is also deeply flawed with one unrealistic assumption after another. This ill-advised campaign is a perfect (and artfully disguised) social welfare scheme—the billions have little value to the ostensible beneficiaries but are a windfall for those administering this crusade. Pushing academically indifferent youngsters to the degree will undermine, not improve American education.