E-mail story

Print story

Subscribe to Print

Dropout report is a wakeup call for all Latinos

When the state released statistics last week revealing that almost 1 in 3 Latinos (30.3 percent) who attend a California public school drop out, the numbers did not surprise or shock educators and public officials. Even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a press conference, wondered the reason why nearly 1 in 4 of the state's 6.3 million students drop out of school.

"What is the reason for the dropouts? Is it parenting, a lack of parenting? Is it that we don't have enough after-school programs to help the kids with their homework and with schoolwork? Is it that the teaching that is going on is too boring?" the governor asked.

Perhaps the governor should have asked himself why the state is ranked near the bottom nationally when it comes to per pupil spending, or how school officials will be able to find qualified teachers to comply with a new state mandate that all eighth-grade students take and pass algebra within three years.

The state's embarrassing dropout rate for Latinos -- 36.4 percent in Fresno County, 33.1 percent in Kern County, 24 percent in Kings County, 33.4 percent in Madera County, 25.2 percent in Merced County, 33.2 percent in Sacramento County, 43.8 percent in San Joaquín County, 28.3 percent in Stanislaus County, 26.5 percent in Tulare County, and, 23.9 percent in Yolo County -- should be a call to arms for the Latino community.

The reason is simple: Latinos represent almost half of California's public school students. And, that percentage grows every year. That means that Latinos, who will become a majority in the future, have the responsibility of making sure we become educated, experienced and knowledgeable in assuming the responsibility that comes with that majority. Otherwise, we will remain relegated to a bleak future of low-paying jobs, lack of representation on political and business levels, and being relegated to second-class status.

Reversing the dropout rate won't be easy. First, parents, educators and politicians have to believe that Latinos are capable of succeeding as doctors, lawyers and scientists, and shouldn't settle for less. Secondly, we must demand accountability from educators and politicians to make sure there are qualified teachers in place and that funding is sufficient and spent correctly. Then, we must build a culture of education with our children at an early age so that higher education becomes a natural step in their lives.

California's future depends on a better-educated Latino.