Should teenagers stay in school until there 18?

Question

It’s been all over the news and papers this morning, what’s your view on teenagers staying in school until there 18, is it right or wrong.

Answer 1

Yet another dictat by the 'Nanny State' Government we are run by. Freedom of thought does not exist anymore!!

Answer 2

Tell you what - the punishment if one doesn't is very petty. Prison? What's that all about? I wonder if the return of National Service would have teenagers attain skills that would be used on the street - or am I harking back to a rosy period which was less aural than we're made to believe?
The threat of a spell in clinky is nasty, and (once again) puts teenagers in the 'scum' league. What is it with politicians - of whatever side. Where will the money come from to finance this?

Answer 3

As a teacher I would say probably not; unless opportunities are provided for apprenticeships and vocational courses. Many pupils are not academic as such but would certainly excel at more hands-on tasks. It's difficult enough keeping 14 - 16 year olds in school who are disinterested in all things academic. However, if they are being trained for a specific aim then perhaps, but shouldn't that be done on the job and not in school? Schools simply don't have the funding to provide all the courses that would be needed.

Answer 4

I think it is a right way to prevent more crime. more people will get out of school with more qualifications, but as a student of final year of my GCSE's in England i dont think that I would ever stay in school till 18 however i really enjoy school but the fact that we have to go to school 5 days a week and same time everyday I just hate that. I personally think that it will be better that people get to go college; meet new people from different cultures and backgrounds get qualifications in college and get to know more about the world by going out of school. Colleges even have more facilities than schools which will make students to be involved in more activities like: gym, DJ'ing, sports.

Answer 5

Depends on the individual child actually - personally I do not think they can keep them interested now so what chance have they got until they reach 18years. For those who want to yes with more help (also to Uni students) i.e. loans which should not have to be paid back - hence encouregment for them to go further and thereby stop having to import different categories for work throughout the UK. We get a shortage and then create a fuss and then we have an overload. For those who wish to leave at 16 - I think we need to bring back apprenticeships to give them a chance of hands on work experience with a final result.

Answer 6

I think it is a good idea to stay in education until at least 18 but I don't believe anyone should be compelled to stay on past 16. Nor do I believe that someone should be criminalised -as is planned - by refusing to stay on at school beyond 16.

Answer 7

Well, take an example from Italy.
When the 16 year olds leave school they get work in factories or the other "menial jobs", they work, earn money...and stay at home with their parents.
The kids who go on to higher education get their degree at around 24-26 years of age. For them, getting that job for which they are qualified is difficult, and only a handful get it (because of recommendations - Italy is corrupt in this respect). The low down is that by this time, those 16 year old "drop outs" have already a lot of money and are driving in Mercedes whilst the majority of our higher education friends are struggling along...

Answer 8

No its a bad idea. It will prove unworkable. The increased age is simply to remove two years of population from the job scene and to remove youth from the streets. I have a better idea.
If the child and parent wish their child to leave school at 15 years old then let them leave. However they leave with a ticket to receive 4 extra years of education at no charge. The 4 extra years to be claimed at any time before they reach 25 years of age. Obviously the education would come at a time when they need to further their education which would be at an appropriate level.
Benefit ..... it removes the troublemakers from school and allows them to return when they are mature enough to benefit from additional education. A ticket to escape 'dead end jobs'.

Answer 9

I think that they should have the right to decide. My 13 year old nephew is really struggling at school and can't wait to leave and get a job. He wants to do work based training so that he is learning and getting money at the same time. I think that this is a better idea than him sat at a desk for another two years and still be struggling.

Answer 10

I just give thanks that I've retired from teaching.
Having classes full of 15/16 year olds who didn't want to be there is bad enough, but the thought of 17/18 year olds being forced to take courses to which they're totally unsuited sends shivers down my spine.
Also, the British economy (like others) needs people in work and paying taxes to pay for pensions and health care for the increasing number of older people. This won't help at all.

Answer 11

It's just a ploy to reduce unemployment. Think of all the unemployed 16-18 year olds who would suddenly be in full time education and therefore not unemployed and on benefits!