[Vision2020] One Way to Save the State Lots and Lots of Money

Wed Feb 17 17:57:51 PST 2010

Wayne,

This would allow the state to abdicate its duty to educate students, and leave out the kids whose parents can't afford to hire tutors. I don't see that as a win. The public bears these costs because they produce a public good.

Sunil

> From: bear at moscow.com
> To: vpschwaller at gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:52:36 -0800
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] One Way to Save the State Lots and Lots of Money
> 
> While I understand the initial knee-jerk reaction is that this is bad,  
> maybe it's not.
> The high flyers in the 11th grade wouldn't be held back, and the less  
> than sharp students would require
> extra work, which will spawn jobs as tutors and "crammers" as utilized  
> in the UK, creating a cottge
> industry.
> 
> The over all tax payers will save money, and while there will be fewer  
> students in our high schools,
> they will be better students. The parents of those that are less than  
> brilliant, will hire tutors for those
> that the system leaves behind, and those students will make excellent  
> students if they get accepted
> into colleges.
> 
> And this way, while the "state" is providing a basic level of  
> education, the parents and or students that
> wish to take advantage of additional tutoring  will bear the cost  
> rather than the public.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 17, 2010, at 4:15 PM, Glenn Schwaller wrote:
> 
> > I found it quite interesting the editorial in the MPDN addressing this
> > issue ran juxtaposed to an op-ed article on how incoming freshmen are
> > so poorly prepared for the rigors of a university education.  Imagine
> > having to teach remedial math, English and reading to high school
> > graduates under the current circumstances.  And someone wants to
> > fast-track them!
> >
> > GS
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 3:05 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>  
> > wrote:
> >> Oh, yeah.  This'll work.
> >>
> >> Courtesy of Associated Content at:
> >>
> >> http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2708945/utah_senator_proposes_eliminating_12th.html
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Utah Senator Proposes Eliminating 12th Grade
> >> Get Rid of 12th Grade in Utah to Save Money, Says Senator
> >> By McCarvel
> >>
> >> Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars on February 1st appeared before the  
> >> Public
> >> Education Appropriations Subcommittee and suggested that Utah schools
> >> eliminate the twelfth grade and get rid of busing for high school  
> >> students
> >> to save $60 million. He said this grade was a waste of time for most
> >> students and that many squander away this year, which costs the state
> >> millions of dollars.
> >>
> >> However, concerned educators said this idea would wreak havoc on  
> >> college
> >> admissions and will create substandard education. Strenuous  
> >> objections
> >> from parents and teachers caused Buttars to back off somewhat and  
> >> change
> >> his proposal to making the senior year optional.
> >>
> >> My child is in the 10th grade at a High School in St. George, Utah.  
> >> My
> >> three other children have already graduated. As a parent, I believe  
> >> kids
> >> are not fully matured at 17 years old and need the senior year to  
> >> allow
> >> them more life experience. I want them to have the wonderful  
> >> experiences
> >> of "senior year." It is a noble goal for them to achieve.
> >>
> >> Without senior year, many would be left to do nothing. The job  
> >> market in
> >> southern Utah is in a desperate situation and certainly adding  
> >> thousands
> >> of 17 years olds would not help the quality of life here for either  
> >> the
> >> child or the community. What does a 17 year old do without school  
> >> or a
> >> job? Frankly, many kids are not academically prepared well at  
> >> junior year
> >> and that would negatively affect the colleges in Utah.
> >>
> >> According to the Salt Lake Tribune (www.sltrib.com), Utah has a $700
> >> million budget shortfall, so $60 million is a significant cut.  
> >> However,
> >> most parents will agree with teachers who say this grade is  
> >> important to
> >> the development of the student. We are preparing them to enter the  
> >> world
> >> in this grade. I have seen my own children sense that they are  
> >> reaching a
> >> major goal in their life when completing the 12th grade and  
> >> graduating
> >> from high school. Just because the state of Utah faces a budget  
> >> crisis in
> >> education which every state has for the last 30 years, it is no  
> >> reason to
> >> create an unemployment crisis and make Utah kids miss out on crucial
> >> instruction that they need for college admission. According to the  
> >> Utah
> >> Board of Education (www.usoe.k12.ut.us) it makes no sense to make  
> >> students
> >> less prepared for college than they are already. Sen. Buttars  
> >> proposal has
> >> caused a firestorm of attention from parents, teachers and students  
> >> almost
> >> all of whom are against his plan. It would appear that the media  
> >> frenzy
> >> over his suggestion would indicate it is not likely to get much  
> >> support
> >> from those involved with this issue.
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Seeya round town, Moscow.
> >>
> >> Tom Hansen
> >> Moscow, Idaho
> >>
> >> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to  
> >> change
> >> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
> >>
> >> - Unknown
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> =======================================================
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> >>               http://www.fsr.net
> >>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> >> =======================================================
> >>
> >
> > =======================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >               http://www.fsr.net
> >          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
> 
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet, 
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
>                http://www.fsr.net                       
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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