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<h1><font style="font-weight: normal;" size="3"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Great</span></font><font size="3">? Idaho minds think the same...</font><br></h1><h1><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2010/feb/15/house-ed-backs-thayn-durst-ed-bill/">House
Ed backs Thayn-Durst ed bill</a></h1>
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at <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2010/feb/15/house-ed-backs-thayn-durst-ed-bill/">9:04
a.m. on February 15</a>
<span><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2010/feb/15/house-ed-backs-thayn-durst-ed-bill/#comments" title="comments">Comments (0)</a></span>
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<ul class="tag-list" style="display: inline;"><li>Tags</li><li class="tag"><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/tags/2010-idaho-legislature/">2010
Idaho Legislature</a></li></ul>
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<p>After a hearing lasting nearly two hours, the House
Education Committee has voted overwhelmingly in favor of HB 493, the
bill from Reps. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, and Branden Durst, D-Boise, to
launch a pilot project to give kids incentives to move through school
more quickly and scholarships if they graduate at least a year early.
There was just one “no” vote, from Rep. Marcus Gibbs, R-Grace. After the
vote, Durst said the numerous questions from the committee show people
are taking the idea seriously. “It’s a huge change - we know that,”
Durst said. “But we’re excited to get it on the floor.” The bill now
heads to the full House.</p>
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</div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Tom Hansen <thansen@moscow.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020@moscow.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Wed, February 17, 2010 3:05:39 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] One Way to Save the State Lots and Lots of Money<br></font><br>
Oh, yeah. This'll work.<br><br>Courtesy of Associated Content at:<br><br><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2708945/utah_senator_proposes_eliminating_12th.html">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2708945/utah_senator_proposes_eliminating_12th.html</a></span><br><br>------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>Utah Senator Proposes Eliminating 12th Grade<br>Get Rid of 12th Grade in Utah to Save Money, Says Senator<br>By McCarvel<br><br>Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars on February 1st appeared before the Public<br>Education Appropriations Subcommittee and suggested that Utah schools<br>eliminate the twelfth grade and get rid of busing for high school students<br>to save $60 million. He said this grade was a waste of time for most<br>students and that many squander away this year, which costs the state<br>millions of dollars.<br><br>However, concerned educators said this idea would
wreak havoc on college<br>admissions and will create substandard education. Strenuous objections<br>from parents and teachers caused Buttars to back off somewhat and change<br>his proposal to making the senior year optional.<br><br>My child is in the 10th grade at a High School in St. George, Utah. My<br>three other children have already graduated. As a parent, I believe kids<br>are not fully matured at 17 years old and need the senior year to allow<br>them more life experience. I want them to have the wonderful experiences<br>of "senior year." It is a noble goal for them to achieve.<br><br>Without senior year, many would be left to do nothing. The job market in<br>southern Utah is in a desperate situation and certainly adding thousands<br>of 17 years olds would not help the quality of life here for either the<br>child or the community. What does a 17 year old do without school or a<br>job? Frankly, many kids are not academically prepared well at junior
year<br>and that would negatively affect the colleges in Utah.<br><br>According to the Salt Lake Tribune (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sltrib.com">www.sltrib.com</a>), Utah has a $700<br>million budget shortfall, so $60 million is a significant cut. However,<br>most parents will agree with teachers who say this grade is important to<br>the development of the student. We are preparing them to enter the world<br>in this grade. I have seen my own children sense that they are reaching a<br>major goal in their life when completing the 12th grade and graduating<br>from high school. Just because the state of Utah faces a budget crisis in<br>education which every state has for the last 30 years, it is no reason to<br>create an unemployment crisis and make Utah kids miss out on crucial<br>instruction that they need for college admission. According to the Utah<br>Board of Education (<a target="_blank"
href="http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us">www.usoe.k12.ut.us</a>) it makes no sense to make students<br>less prepared for college than they are already. Sen. Buttars proposal has<br>caused a firestorm of attention from parents, teachers and students almost<br>all of whom are against his plan. It would appear that the media frenzy<br>over his suggestion would indicate it is not likely to get much support<br>from those involved with this issue.<br><br>------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>Seeya round town, Moscow.<br><br>Tom Hansen<br>Moscow, Idaho<br><br>"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change<br>and the Realist adjusts his sails."<br><br>- Unknown<br><br><br><br>=======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br><span>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a> </span><br> mailto:<a ymailto="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>=======================================================<br></div></div>
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