THE CRITICAL DILEMMA OF THE SCHOOL DROPOUT

The dilemma of the school dropout will become increasingly critical during the next decade unless we mobilize American ingenuity. Jobs requiring high level skills are unfilled while tens of thousands of youth drop out of school before acquiring a salable skill, adding to the tragic ranks of the unemployed. This paper indicates the special resources developed by the schools to reduce the rate of dropouts. However, if we are to cope with the problem, we must recognize that the schools cannot go it alone-the responsibility must be shared by the community if it is to be met effectively.