Re: Why do kids get turned off learning

Date: Wed Feb 14 21:36:48 2001
Posted By: Alex Goddard, Grad student, Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
Area of science: Science History
ID: 980798049.Sh

Message:

Will,
There probably is no one, main reason why someone decides they don't like school or don't need to try. It is undoubtedly a mix of things such as: problems at home, depression, learning disabilities, social akwardness, social pressures, or other conditions like ADD. It is a tremendously complex sociological and psychological problem.

A great article to get you on your way about some issues can be found at htt p://www.keepkidshealthy.com/adolescent/schoolperformance.html
This website has some more interesting tidbits about ADD: http://earlychildhood.about.com/education/earlychildhood/cs/addadhd /index.htm

Here are some reasons (I found on the net) why youth might drop out of high school. Dropouts listed both school problems and personal factors as reasons for dropping out:

-Didn't like school in general or the school they were attending.
-Were failing, getting poor grades, or couldn't keep up with school work.
-Didn't get along with teachers and/or students.
-Had disciplinary problems, were suspended, or expelled.
-Didn't feel safe in school.
-Got a job, had a family to support, or had trouble managing both school and work.
-Got married, got pregnant, or became a parent.
-Had a drug or alcohol problem.

I'm sorry I don't have any clear cut answers! I hope this of some use to you.

-Alex
cgoddard@fas.harvard.edu

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