Pols consider raising drop-out age

HUTSONVILLE, Ill. (WTHI) - Students could be required to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18 under a plan put forward by some state and federal politicians.

In President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, the president called on every state to enact the requirement, and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has said he would support the requirement as well.

Critics of the proposal say that, while keeping kids in school is admirable, requiring their attendance does not mean those students will stay engaged in class or will graduate.

“We have to be realistic in that the education has to attract and motivate those students as well,” said Hutsonville, Illinois superintendent Roger Eddy, who also serves as a state representative. “Just saying it doesn’t do really anything except make for a nice line in a state of the Union speech.”

Eddy said that engaging a wide variety of students requires a wide variety of programs, including vocational programs and job programs.

“Kids grow up, and as they grow up they begin to make choices and they make choices based on, in many cases, what they feel is in their own best interest,” Eddy said. “If they don’t feel attending school is in their own best interest, they begin to look at other things.”