Imagine waking up at 6 a.m. and getting ready for school. Then someone tells you, you don’t have to go. How would that make you feel? What would you do? Should school really be mandatory? How would it affect my life in the future?

Some may think school should be mandatory because they want people to obtain knowledge, get a good job later in life, and know they accomplished something in their short lives; however, some may think it should not be mandatory because they may have different priorities in life. They might not get as much discipline as others and aren’t motivated to do well in school.

Also, some of the students act up in school so much they either don’t listen or they get suspended. Some can come to believe that the MPS school board is telling them what to do; however, everyone should know MPS just wants everyone in Milwaukee to have a great education to get a good job.

Even high school students think that school is a necessity.

“I believe school is mandatory for children who want to make a difference, and who are ready for reality,” Commented Pachia Yang, a student at Community High School.

Chou Yang remarked, “School should be mandatory because without it, students won’t be able to experience or understand anything in their lives. As for education, I think education is extremely important in our lives because it helps us get closer to our goals. Without it, what will happen to us?”

If children don’t want to learn, then chances are they won’t learn and most likely drop out. Those who do drop out will look back and see what they did wrong. If they spent their time wisely and obtained knowledge while school is free, they might have a good job later in life. Although, others think it should not be mandatory.

Students and teachers at Community High School think differently about this topic. “No, I think that school should be voluntary. We will end up with people who go to school when they are supposed to and we will end up with people who will go back when they realize they need it. School is simply a way for people to gain knowledge.
If they think they can do it another way then let them. People need to figure it out for themselves,” Expressed Kyle, a teacher at Community High School.

Sergio Ferguson, a student at CHS agreed with Kyle that children should make their own choice on if they want to get an education or not. Sergio made the point that children will eventually realize that they need school. It may just take longer for some.

What would the path be like for those students who did not attend school? How would it affect their lives? For example, Bill Gates is a college drop out. Bill Gates now makes billions of dollars off of Microsoft. Microsoft makes PC (personal computers), and also XBOX, and XBOX 360’s. Do not get your hopes up though; many people who dropped out now have minimum wage jobs and can barley afford to feed their families.

Many people have different theories on whether school should be mandatory and not mandatory. Some other teachers at Community High School have mixed feelings on this topic.

Roxane Mayeur, one of the lead teachers at Community High School stated, “I have mixed feelings on this topic. I truly believe that education is an equalizer and that it should be mandatory. However, some students seem to focus on disrupting those who came to learn. I wish that we could find a way to reach every kid, but we’re only human.”

Are things going to change? Will kids still wake up at 6 a.m. and get ready for school? Whether the kids want it changed or not the MPS school board will make us go to school and get an education. Maybe in the future things will change. Maybe school won’t be mandatory and kids will actually go to school because they want to. Maybe...

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