Study stresses the importance of getting the sheepskin

“It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time — for we are bound by that — but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time.”

— T.S. Eliot 

This little gem came to the Editor’s mailbag, and it is most worthy of forwarding to our readers, especially those young students who may be lured by a wage that now seems so much more worthwhile than the diploma they will receive at high school graduation.

Simply, the lesson here, lads and lassies, is Stay In School, Get Your Diploma!

And, here’s why:

The University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research and its nonprofit Montana KIDS COUNT recently released a report detailing the personal, statewide and national implications of youth not graduating from high school.

According to the report, people without a high school diploma frequently end up at the lowest end of the economic spectrum, where saving and accumulating assets is hard, with only minimal chances of breaking out of poverty. 

Please, young people, re-read that last paragraph. ... 

The report continues:

For the 2009-10 statewide class, 10,349 youth earned diplomas and graduated, while 2,252 students dropped out at some point during the four years of high school.

“The problems that may lead to a child dropping out can start well before high school,” said Daphne Herling, the report’s primary author. 

“Recognizing these contributing factors would enable educators to intervene at an earlier stage.”

The list of contributing factors includes reading below grade level at the end of third grade, ongoing patterns of absenteeism or tardiness, and lack of connection and engagement in school.

To improve the odds of youth graduating from high school, the KIDS COUNT report presents evidence-based solutions such as strengthening school readiness through improved early childhood education, engaging in higher levels of family and community school involvement, enhancing the connection between school and work and establishing early warning systems to support struggling students. 

The Graduation Matters Montana initiative that promotes high school graduation is also highlighted as an important first step toward improving graduation rates.

For more information, go to http://www.montanakidscount.org, call Montana KIDS COUNT director Thale Dillon at 406 243-5113 or email thale.dillon@business.umt.edu.

Îf you know a young person who might be considering leaving school before graduation, tell them about this report, or, better yet, clip it and put it someplace where it will be seen.

Graduaton does matter. That’s the message, the sage advice here, and we should all do what we can to entice everyone to learn.

*   *   *

I had a great time last weekend at the Heritage Museum’s Seventh Annual Chili Cook-off.

I was granted the distinct pleasure of being one of the judges, along with librarian Lynn Zimmerman and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanda Jennings.

The best part about it is sampling all the different chilis. My preference is a chili that almost bites you back. Yes, I’m talking about the hot stuff.

It’s my feeling if a chili doesn’t clear your sinuses, make your nose run or make you break a sweat, it’s not hot enough.

However, I certainly understand a chili that appeals to the masses, as there was that Saturday.

Many thanks to Laurie Mari and Susan Castaneda for this opportunity.

Certainly, it was a lot of fun. And, gosh, wasn’t it a beautiful fall day in Montana!

(Alan Lewis Gerstenecker is editor of The Western News. His column appears weekly.)