Political Cartoon

High School Diploma?

            Dropout rates have been a huge problem among schools across the nation. Over the last few years graduation rates have increased; however, the percentages are still nowhere near perfect.   Why such the large dropout rate and what causes the students to drop out? Is it the drugs and alcohol? Or maybe teen pregnancy? Possibly poverty? There are several factors that play a role in high school dropouts. It is said students living in cities are twice as likely to dropout then students in rural areas. Also, one in four Hispanics drop out and half of those occur before completing the eighth grade.   Some students simply do not like school and believe they can do better without it. They may leave to help support their family or to get away from family. How can we solve these problems? The jobs available are becoming more and more competitive. Jobs and careers that once did not require any college degree now do require the education. Today you can’t go very far in the work field with only a high school diploma, with a few exceptions. How can our children do well if they don’t even get a high school diploma?

             The caption of this political cartoon reads, ‘High School Graduation’. In this cartoon, it pictures outlined figures dressed in caps and gowns representing students that have dropped out and displaying almost half of the graduating class had left before graduating. However, without the words inscribed in the outlined figures it would be unclear what the cartoonist was implying. The figures could have represented students that have died in an automobile accident, or other incidents that keep students from graduating.

            Some people may argue that the amount of dropout students pictured may be an exaggeration; however, in some schools the dropout rate is that high. There are schools across the country doing very well with high graduation rates.  

            Other components to political cartoons are visual irony, caricature, and iconography; also, context, symbol, and exaggeration which were elaborated previous. This particular cartoon lacks the first list of components. The message the cartoonist, John Trever, points out is simply shown with just a caption and a few symbols. Some cartoons require more features, but since this is such a well-known issue and many people know the context of it, the cartoonist was able to use few components, but still make the message clear.

            The cartoon, overall, shows that there are too many students dropping out. Many programs have been started to help kids finish high school, which have helped considerably. If students do decide to drop out despite the programs, there are other programs for them to get their GED, which is better than nothing.