Los Angeles mayor says dropout report is wrong

Will somebody PLEEEEZE talk about the CHSPE statistics? Why are more and more kids opting out of traditional high school to take the proficiency exam at 16? According to the state's website, these kids are not included in the drop out statistics, because they've completed the state's requirements. I'm wondering why more and more kids are deciding that 2 years of what the state has to offer is enough - and how many of them successfully go on to college? My daughter did - because our education system is so messed up, she passed the exam with very little preparation. A lot of kids also realize that the classes they would be taking during junior/senior year of h.s. can also be taken at the local JC - FOR COLLEGE CREDIT.

And the philandering Mayor who is never in otwn will fix L.A. schools. The inmates are running the asylum.

Another photo op for TV Tony. Why doesn't he just stay shacked up with his alley cat mistresses and shut up?

No ABC's for Tony V!

I 'm incline to believe the States numbers (33%) Mayor Tony has no creditability. What ever happened to his vacation trip to Israel I'm still waiting for the so-called DIVIDENDS . His entourage haven't said a peep. The total cost of trip is also hush,hush. Jerk

Of course, Antonio won't like the statistics, he will next year so he can show he made a difference. This guy is so power hungry and manipulative has never missed a photo op, he has a photo opportunity scheduled every day.

Tallk to the kids themselves. Get those who are willing to talk about their problems, sit them down in small groups with unbiased listening and nonthreatening questions, and listen to them. Don't tell them. LISTEN to them. Don't censure their answers. Don't "yes, but .. " them. They can teach us a lot about what's wrong in their lives. Give them a chance to become parrt of the solution to the problem. Ask teachers, and don't fire them when they tell you the truth as they see it in the classroom.

In addition, read some of Jonathan Kozol's invaluable work with innercity kids and learn from his experienced observations and opinions. It isn't that we don't know what is needed. It's that we don't listen and learn from experience, but persist in the old ways -- criticize the kids, their parents and teachers, punish the "delinquents" and then bury it all under some new "plan" like "faith-based" or "charter" or "home-schooling" or "testing" or "no child left behind"and run away for another five years or so.