The High School Failures: A Study of the School Records of Pupils Failing in Academic or Commercial High School Subjects

A scientific publication written in the early 20th century. This study scrutinizes the school records of students who failed in academic or commercial high school subjects, focusing on identifying the causes and implications of academic failure. By thoroughly analyzing the failure rates across multiple high schools, the work aims to shed light on the educational system and its effectiveness in supporting student achievement. The opening of the work presents an introduction to the relevance of studying high school failures amid an era of educational reform and growing public investment in secondary education. O'Brien highlights the increasing scrutiny of school performance and the pressing need for accountability in high schools, given the high dropout rates and failures observed among students. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and factors surrounding these failures, underscoring that they can be linked to a variety of systemic and individual components within the educational apparatus. The chapter outlines the scope of research, the population studied, and the types of data collected, establishing a foundation for a comprehensive exploration of this significant educational issue.