Abstract

WEISS HORZ, Eduardo. The meanings of high school for young people and student permanency in Mexico. Sinéctica [online]. 2018, n.51, 00003. ISSN 2007-7033.  https://doi.org/10.31391/s2007-7033(2018)0051-003.

This essay discusses the policy guidelines for compulsory high school studies in light of research findings on the meaning of high school for young people and the reasons for their withdrawal. The empirical studies of reference are from the author’s qualitative research, from a sociocultural perspective, and from the direction of master’s and doctoral theses on young people and high school; these findings are compared with the guidelines contained in official documents. It is shown that for young people, school means -among other things- a space for youthful life that reduces the time for academic activities while permitting important processes of subjectivization. The main reasons for withdrawal are academic failure and disinterest in academic subjects. A gap exists between the low skills of most entering high school students, and the academic demands of the plan and program of studies. Due to the increased flexibility of earning course credit without changes in plans of study, high school runs the risk of becoming a nursery for young people, instead of a place for learning life skills.

Keywords : high school; retention; young people; Mexico.

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