There is no one magical, quick fix solution to Bermuda's dropout problem. The problem is complex and requires a complex array of solutions. It is the intent of this paper to study the scope of this hidden crisis, the poor dropout and graduation rates of Bermuda's Public High School System, by reviewing the most recent and accurate data on graduation and dropout rates, exploring the reasons that young people drop out of school, and presenting the most promising models for helping high school students graduate with their peers.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction.
This chapter provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed, scholarly and governmental literature to develop the requisite background and overview of the current public and private educational services provided in Bermuda, a discussion of dropout prevention and graduation rates,
Background and Overview.
Today, Bermuda has the third highest per capita income in the world; in fact, the island's per capita income is more than 50% higher than the United States (Bermuda, 2008). Bermuda also invests in its educational system to the extent of 1.2% of its gross national product (Bermuda). Moreover, the history of education in Bermuda is nearly as old as the territory itself. For instance, according to Bernhard (1999), "Puritanism, with its strong emphasis on Bible reading, was almost certainly responsible for the early concern for religious instruction and public education in Bermuda. In 1622, when the colony was scarcely a decade old, Governor Nathaniel Butler ordered all the tribes to keep birth, marriage, and death records and to set aside time on the Sabbath for the religious instruction of children" (p. 43). One local authority reports that, "Government grants for primary education began in 1816. The government educational system of today derives, however, from the Schools Act 1879 and is based on the traditional British pattern" (Forbes, 2008, p. 7).
Clearly, the four centuries that have passed since the territory's discovery have witnessed some profound changes to the educational system in Bermuda. According to one local observer, "Bermuda is a tiny island of only 21 square miles or 56 kilometers in total land area. The educational system here is completely independent of the systems of any foreign country such as the United Kingdom, USA or Canada or beyond" (Forbes, 2008, p. 2). The Education Act 1949 established the right of all children within what was then the compulsory school age (7 to 13) to receive free primary education" (Forbes, 2008, p. 7). By 1969, the compulsory school age had been expanded to 5 to 16 years and all children within that age are entitled to free primary and secondary education (Forbes). The Bermudan Education Act was amended in 1985 to entitle children to remain in secondary school up to the age of 19 years in order to complete the secondary program (Forbes).
The Bermudan population is relatively homogeneous and the island's small population has created some unique challenges for educators and parents alike. As Forbes emphasizes, "Unlike in far larger countries with significant multi-cultural populations and cultural and educational facilities and laws and faculties to match, no laws or facilities of any kind exist (because there is no or insufficient demand for them) in Bermuda for non-English-speaking children to be taught while at school in any language other than English" (p. 3). In this environment, it may not be all that surprising that the public educational system has languished in recent years, and there is a growing consensus that the citizens of Bermuda and their children deserve far better for their tax dollars. A review of current public private and public high school facilities available in Bermuda is provided below.
Public and Private High School Facilities in Bermuda Today.
Notwithstanding the foregoing constraints, Bermuda enjoys a number of high-quality institutions of learning, particularly in the private sector; while this is not vastly different than the situation faced by many other nations, it is clear that the public sector is failing to engage a number of high school students who become disillusioned, frustrated or impatient with their progress in school. According to Forbes, "Public education in Bermuda at Bermuda Government owned or maintained schools is conducted by accredited and qualified teachers who must be certified by the Bermuda Government and are members of the Bermuda Union of Teachers" (p. 5). According to Bermuda's Ministry of Education & Development governs a public school system which includes two senior secondary schools, five middle schools, 18 primary schools, 12 preschools, two special schools and a junior college. There are also several private schools in Bermuda. Some 62% of Bermuda's children go to public schools,...
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