“Personal, family and health problems” included pregnancy, child's ill-health, parent's ill-health, death and personal relationships. Alcoholism and drugs were specifically mentioned as reasons for quitting. The former by a Native and the latter by a white. Both were males. (Two other males admitted to alcoholism or drinking in their past, but had put it behind them in marriage.) The one with the alcoholism problem currently was in trouble with the courts, and was obviously scared about what was going to happen. He had been in ABE Fundamental as recently as a couple of months prior to the interview. He would have liked an AA group on campus for support. His common-law wife was also an alcoholic so that did not help him. He wanted to be a carpenter. He had six children to provide for from his two wives and was "stressed" because he could not do so.

The “Personal effort” group of reasons were an interesting mix. Two came from the same young man who had been allowed into ABE first as a teenager (16 years) and later had returned to ABE night classes. In the first instance he had Ra hard time keeping up" and as he was a fee-payer, he quit. The second time he was also working and "spreading himself too thin." This man had been taken out of Grade 2 in school by his parents and had learned at home. He had some practical trade skills and was very useful as a tradesman in his community, but needed to get his "ticket". He was about to try to get that through upgrading with his employer's support. The other comments in this category included: I need time for myself now and again," and the interesting excuse - I can't get up in the mornings. I'm not alert until 1 p.m. I've always been like that." This man showed up at 4 p.m. for his interview which had been scheduled for earlier in the day!

The “Financial reasons” included quitting ABE so "UIC was not lost." Two Natives - one male, one female - were now participating in programs, but had tried ABE several years ago and quit. The man said that his band did not offer enough money to pay for all the costs of attending college - living allowance, fees, transport and books. Other bands in the region were more generous. So, he quit and went fishing. The woman had had similar problems. She said "the necessary supports have to be in place."