I want to see a Michigan that extends to all its citizens, no matter what age, the promise of a High School diploma. I started out my thinking on this subject with the problem of the Flint school systems very low High School graduation rates, less than 50%. As part of the solution to the graduation rate a possible solution to the behavior within the schools that contributes to the high rate of drop outs became apparent. Since the schools have such a high rate of drop outs they must have a high rate of building in-occupancy. Let’s encourage adults of any age to return to school to receive a High School Diploma, even if they have already attained a GED. We all know it is hard to display some behaviors with a grand parent, parent, or aunt or uncle present. By encouraging those without a High School Diploma to return to school we would be impacting both the behavior of our youth as well as increasing our percentage of adults with the High School Diploma. I see many adults in the Flint area wanting to have an impact on their community’s problems, with civic pride they could be encouraged to reenter the schools to assist in those schools betterment. I would like to see primetime integrated learning for some classes as well as specialized classes for the older returning students. Higher graduation rates, improved adult interaction within the educational setting, all should lead to a better community, and a better Michigan.
While I have only provided a short synopsis of this “Michigan Promise” if you let your imagination play with this program you can see that with only marginal increased costs a great deal of positive change within our communities and our State can be achieved. To be the first State to enact such a plan would do wonders for our image in the eyes of those considering Michigan to relocate their business and employees.
