Senator Buttars of Utah has proposed that public schools institute an accelerated graduation program. In that program students would essentially be graduating after 11th grade and senior year would cease to exist. This program was drawn up for the purpose of saving money alloted to state education.
Addressing the Utah State Senate's Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee meeting, Buttars said cutting high school back to three years would save the strapped state $102 million annually.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700006356/Buttars-proposes-cutting-12...
Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Heights, who taught high school for years, adamantly opposes Buttars' plan, saying senior year is when kids mature and excel in academics, sports and activities.When asked why he wants bring in a proposal to cut the twelfth grade completely he responded saying that students don't absorb any information and it's just a waste of time. As a high school student I wouldn't mind skipping an extra year of school, but realistically it just wouldn't work. Many students believe that their senior year of high school is just coasting to graduation, but it really isn't.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700006356/Buttars-proposes-cutting-12th-grade.html
The last year of high school is one that is very important for emotional maturation as well as educational. Can you imagine graduating at age seventeen and beginning a career or going off to college. This last year is the time we make the change from being teens to adults. What's terrible is that people really think that cutting costs on education and eliminating a year of high school is beneficial, when really that one year is so important to so many.
Blake, I enjoyed your post
Blake,
I enjoyed your post because it brings to light the utter ridiculousness of our favorite congressman, Chris Buttars. I feel as though his new radical idea is following suite to the lack of common sense resonating throuhout our legislation. To me, it's as if a scenario such as problem: gov needs more money/schools won't recieve more money and we want them to stop complaining/kids can graduate in three years if they want to because our system is made that way so why not? solution: give more money to the schools (the obvious best choice)/replan the curriculum to make utah public schools not so easy to breeze on through (another suitable solution)/ get rid of the 12th grade all together! yahoo!
all i can say is, really Buttars? The twelfth grade is certainly important to a young adult's life. It didn't used to be a system in which it was oriented around colleges, but mid-year reports and early admission has made it easier for some students to maybe take it less seriously than it should. but nevertheless, a lot of important things accompany that last out of the four years in high school.
Your post made me appreciate the last remaining months I have, as difficult as they may be to get through, I will always be grateful I at lease possess.
Looking forward to the next post,
Meghan
Blake, The thought of
Blake,
The thought of eliminating the 12th grade does so very appealing as a student. However, there is a point of maturation we all go through during our senior year. There are students who push themselves during their senior year more than any other year. There is a lot of "coasters" in every class. Once a student is in college, there seems to be a downward trend in grades.
The statement "students don't absorb any information and it's just a waste of time" seems like a pointless statement. If there weren't a senior year, Juniors would fall into the same path. Many would crummble and make it a waste of time and few would excell their knowledge even more. And if this were true of juniors, then it would also be a waste of time and someone would want junior year to be skipped as well.
I truly believe that senior year is one of the most important years. It makes students really stay focused if they want to go to a good college. Every senior has to push themselves to stay away from senioritis, even though a lot have it. Senior year is what proves a bad student from a good student. Every year in school is important, but senior year could be the most important because of how mature it makes every student.
I hope that Buttars proposal does not come into affect because it could stupify many students and many highly acknowledged high shcools.
Thank you,
Gordon
Blake, I agree with you in
Blake,
I agree with you in saying that the 12th grade is a time for maturation and growth. Through my senior year, I have learned to be more dependable and independent. I have also noticed in sports that your senior year can be the best because you are the oldest and have the most developed body.
By cutting the senior year, 11th grade will essentially become its replacement. Students will feel 'senioritus' during their junior year and will be anxious to go to college. Although it would be nice to go to college early, how could one depend on their self if they are not legally an adult? It just doesn't make sense.
Thanks for your post blake. It is very insightful.
Dylan