I have some questions and am away from a computer so can't do much in the way of research at the moment.
The graduation rate of Aboriginal students seems to be hovering around 49%. Is that overall? Or is it the percentage that graduates within the standard expectation of six years, as it is measured here in British Columbia?
Who decides that graduate rates within six years is the yardstick by which we will measure student success?
Do school districts measure grad rates after six years? Does the Ministry of Education?
What is the percentage of Aborignal students graduating in seven years? Eight?
Do we consider them failures?
What about those news stories we hear periodically about the 82 year old woman who is graduating with her granddaught from high school and everybody says what a great story? What about the 79 year old war hero just finishing his high school diploma because the war got in the way so long ago and he just didn't have time to finish until now?
Do we consider THEM failures?
It would be nice if they kept seven year grad rates. I don't think there's any shame in taking an extra year if you need it. What's one more year in the grand scheme of things?
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