Causes and consequences of leaving school early in the Roman Catholic School Board for St. John's

Walsh, Pamela A.(Pamela Ann) (1988) Causes and consequences of leaving school early in the Roman Catholic School Board for St. John's. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (26MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

This study examined the leaving early phenomenon, in the Roman Catholic School Board for St. John’s, from the perspective of both the contributing factors and the consequences. A set of 19 independent variables was identified as possible factors associated with the decision to leave school early. These included variables related to the individual, the school, the peer group, and the family. Five independent variables were used to identify consequences of leaving early. These were satisfaction with present life, job classification, occupational aspirations, number of current close friends who did not finish school, and proportion of siblings who subsequently left early. -- The interview schedules designed for this study were used with a random stratified sample of 50 early leavers who left high school between June, 1983 and June, 1984 and 50 graduates of June, 1984. Multiple regression analyses (stepwise) were used to examine factors associated with the decision to leave early, while t-tests were used to determine the consequences of that decision. -- The results of the multiple regression analyses led to the conclusion that early leavers experienced more academic failure in the year prior to leaving, had more close friends who were early leavers, had a greater absenteeism rate during their last two years of school, and had mothers with lower levels of education. In addition, early leavers placed less importance on education, had experienced a greater grade repetition rate, and had parents who held lower levels of aspiration than graduates. -- The results of the t-test analyses led to the conclusion that early leavers have a lower level of satisfaction with their lives than graduates, have lower occupational aspirations, have more current friends who did not finish school, and have a greater proportion of siblings who had subsequently left earlier. -- The most frequently cited reasons for leaving early were desire to work, failing or doing poorly and dislike of school. The most frequently cited suggestions for improvement were smaller classes to ensure more individual help and more courses of a practical or interesting nature. Most early leavers had not completed graduation requirements or enrolled in a post-secondary or job-training program.

Actions (login required)

View Item