Our experience in dealing with a great majority of students who, for whatever reason, did not finish high school is that because they were falling behind at a very early age in grammar school they lost their desire or will to get “caught up” or, at least, seek help. The system of promoting students who have not mastered the basics, simply because the school must make room for the next class has severely shortchanged these students. Grammar and basic math were not fully absorbed and from that everything from then on became more and more difficult. The result was discouragement and a desire to drop out. All the ills that accompany that then proceeded to influence the student’s future prospects.
Liberty High School’s Diploma Program tries to put an emphasis on these basic skills but we are fighting against often years of neglect. Bright people with good attitudes hampered by the grammar school that did not serve them well. We should say couldn’t serve them well. Why? Because the educational system often considers the lower grades a training grounds for new teachers. When, if fact, some of the most skilled teachers should be teaching the grammar school students.