(DURHAM, September 1, 2005) — Nearly every community faces the challenge of keeping students in school. In Somersworth, six high school students borrowed cameras from New Hampshire Public Television to produce a 13-minute documentary that focuses on the dropout problem from their own perspective. Their short film airs Wednesday, September 7 @ 10 p.m. on NHPTV when NH Outlook takes a special look at keeping teens in school.Beginning late last winter and ending with graduation, the students videotaped interviews with students, parents, teachers, school administrators and members of the community, asking: Why are teens dropping out of school?The six students documented hours of footage including poignant interviews with a former high school drop out as well as a high school junior who is on the verge of leaving school. The students also followed the Somersworth truant officer as she looked for and "collected" absentee students. They were invited into a home to learn about one mother’s struggle to keep her daughter in school. NH Outlook Producer Phil Vaughn assisted the students with their documentary.The program will also include a discussion about how to help keep "at-risk" students in school.NH Outlook is dedicated to statewide coverage of the people, places, politics, communities and culture that make the Granite State special. NH Outlook airs weeknights at 10 p.m., and again at 1 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
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