Students at Good Hope Middle School made an important decision Friday, one that may affect the rest of their lives, when they signed a pledge to not drop out of school.

The students in grades 6-8 made the declaration to stay in school after watching “Inside Out,” a 34- minute documentary about incarcerated dropouts. The prisoners featured in the film discuss how the decision to quit school negatively impacted their lives and played a part in getting them where they are today.

The movie is the work of the Birmingham-based Mattie B. Stewart Foundation, an organization founded by Birmingham radio personality Shelley Stewart for the sole purpose of influencing more students to finish high school.

According to the Associated Press, 60 percent of Alabama’s inmates didn’t finish high school.

The film debuted in schools across the state Friday as part of “Inside Out Day.”

“If we can just reach one student…” Assistant Principal April Tucker said about effort.

Apparently, all the students were reached. Principal Wayne Weissend said the pledge cards were signed by every student in the school.

In addition to staying in school, students pledged to avoid gangs, crime and prison.

At the end of the movie, shown in every classroom at GHMS Friday, teachers talked to their students about the results of dropping out of school.

Mike Briscoe, a 7th grade language arts teacher, used the issue of income as an incentive for staying in school, saying the average income of a working high school dropout is barely enough for a person to get by.

Also speaking to GHMS students Friday about the consequences of dropping out was Culllman City Police Chief Kenny Culpepper.

Tucker said she thinks the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has helped reduce the dropout rate across the country.

“With No Child Left Behind, it makes us accountable,” she said.

However, she said more can be done to improve student retention rates.

“To me it’s to easy for a child to quit school,” she said. “I think we need to look at that.”

In Alabama, students can drop out of school at 16 if they have the consent of their parents or legal guardians.

To further demonstrate the consequences of quitting classes, students participated in a writing exercise in which they wrote a letter to their parents from the perspective of a prisoner.

To add a little fun to “Inside-Out Day,” students at the school dressed inside out. Tucker said some students from the high school who weren’t aware of “Inside Out Day” informed her that the tag of her shirt was sticking out. Several students went further, wearing their pants inside-out. One student, Patrick Lilly, 12, wore socks over his shoes.

Alex Cofer, another GHMS student, said he knows he will never drop out of school, especially after seeing Friday’s film presentation.

“If you drop out, something serious could happen,” said the sixth grader.

Seventh grader Luke Parker, said seeing the locked-up drop outs was sad.

“They paid the consequence (of dropping out),” he said.

Amber Collins, 13, an eighth grade student who hopes to be a pharmacist one day, said dropping out of school makes no sense. “If you’re going to drop out when your 16, why not wait a couple of years and it would be over?”

Reading teacher Charlene White said she hopes students take from the film the importance of learning to read.

“I hope they take that and let that seed plant,” she said about the documentary.

Tucker said most of the dropouts she knows are not in prison. However, she said they have not been especially successful.

“The majority of them are not working,” she said.