Improving High School Graduation Rates Start with Youngest Students

Educators and Business leaders are trying new ideas to help improve the state’s High School graduation rates and as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports they're starting with the youngest students.

The recent Mississippi Children's Educational Fair, gave fifth graders from across the state the chance to see dozens of career professionals doing jobs that may be waiting for them when they finish high school. State Superintendent of Education, Hank Bounds, says it hard for children to dream if they don't know what to dream about.

“This presents kids with just about every employment opportunity you can imagine. From firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel to all the medical fields that come into play when you see this mock wreck like we have behind me. To show kids things that will allow them to think beyond the boundaries of their community or their county.”

The event is filled with hands on interactive exhibits. Susan Garrard, Executive Director of the Mississippi Children's Museum is hoping learning techniques like these will encourage students to start thinking about their career future.

“I bet they won’t forget a helicopter coming in and landing. And searching for rocks from one of our geologists at DEQ and being with people that are conducting a trial. Ant in our trauma center watching the surgery take place.”

Geologist, Michael Bograd, is with the Department of Environmental Qualities is hoping to interest kids in exploring new frontiers.

“We need more scientist so we’re trying to spark an interest in these fifth graders so that they will stay in school, get an education and replace us older people who are on the verge of retiring.”

The Mississippi Children's Educational Fair was co sponsored by The MS Dept of Education and Partners of the MS Children's Museum. For MPB news, I'm Lawayne Childrey.