WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | AT&T funds initiative to address drop-out rates

AT&T funds initiative to address drop-out rates

December 1, 2008

By Chris Vessell  bio | email

AUBURN, AL (WTVM) - It's a lesson one future teacher plans to pass on to his students.  "I don't recommend dropping out," Mitch Bruce, a former high school drop-out said.  Bruce along with two friends all dropped out of high school when they were sixteen.  "At the time, I didn't look at it as being an important decision when I dropped out, but when you get out there and start looking for work, it's a different story," Bruce said.  Bruce has his GED and is now attending college to become a teacher. 

AT&T is providing Auburn University's College of Education with $400,000 to reduce the drop-out rate in five Alabama high schools.  The schools include Loachapoka High School, Opelika High School, Dadeville High School, Bullock County High School and Hale County High School.  

"So [we're] now going back to those roots, and identifying those students who are in need that are just on that edge that or either not making it, grab them by the hand, and coach them on a regular basis to help them move forward," Dr. Marvin Lowe, Bullock High School Principal said. 

"I needed some one-on-one attention in certain areas, and I wasn't being offered that and I tried to ask some teachers and that wasn't offered," Daniel Fowll, former high school drop-out said.  These three young men certainly aren't alone.  According to the Southern Education Foundation, 40% of students in Alabama drop out of High School. 

"It's not been successful with traditional kinds of practices in school.  So we want to begin working with them to help build relationships, and feel connected," Dr. Cynthia Reed, Director of Truman Pierce Institute said.  While some stress improvements in counseling, one 23-year-old, who dropped out of high school when he was 16, points to family issues, and a lack of faith-based teaching as root causes.  "I believe that could help people these days if we could get back to Christ centered education," Bazzell, a former high school drop-out said.

The men hope that Auburn University's new initiative help reduce the state's drop-out rate.  "It's Important to stay in school and get an education and finish," Bruce said.