While drug use, teenage pregnancy, and failing school programs are the factors that negatively affect the American high school graduation rate, the Aussies have a different set of problems:
An Australian high school hopes to stop beach-loving students from bailing out of class by making surfing an approved subject, according to The Associated Press. Byron Bay High School will offer surfing as part of a recreation course that from next year will count toward a high school certificate in New South Wales state."You've got students who are at risk of dropping out of school and the school has developed this course as a way to provide a pathway for these students into future employment and keep them connected to education," state Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt said.
Only in Australia would a surfing course be suggested as (a) a way to keep kids in school and (b) means to gain meaningful future employment. Perhaps California towns with high waves and low test scores could follow suit?
Posted by kswygert at September 12, 2005 12:33 PM