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Wayne,<br><br>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.<br><br>Sunil<br><br>> From: bear@moscow.com<br>> To: vpschwaller@gmail.com<br>> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:52:36 -0800<br>> CC: vision2020@moscow.com<br>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] One Way to Save the State Lots and Lots of Money<br>> <br>> While I understand the initial knee-jerk reaction is that this is bad, <br>> maybe it's not.<br>> The high flyers in the 11th grade wouldn't be held back, and the less <br>> than sharp students would require<br>> extra work, which will spawn jobs as tutors and "crammers" as utilized <br>> in the UK, creating a cottge<br>> industry.<br>> <br>> The over all tax payers will save money, and while there will be fewer <br>> students in our high schools,<br>> they will be better students. The parents of those that are less than <br>> brilliant, will hire tutors for those<br>> that the system leaves behind, and those students will make excellent <br>> students if they get accepted<br>> into colleges.<br>> <br>> And this way, while the "state" is providing a basic level of <br>> education, the parents and or students that<br>> wish to take advantage of additional tutoring will bear the cost <br>> rather than the public.<br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> On Feb 17, 2010, at 4:15 PM, Glenn Schwaller wrote:<br>> <br>> > I found it quite interesting the editorial in the MPDN addressing this<br>> > issue ran juxtaposed to an op-ed article on how incoming freshmen are<br>> > so poorly prepared for the rigors of a university education. Imagine<br>> > having to teach remedial math, English and reading to high school<br>> > graduates under the current circumstances. And someone wants to<br>> > fast-track them!<br>> ><br>> > GS<br>> ><br>> > On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 3:05 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen@moscow.com> <br>> > wrote:<br>> >> Oh, yeah. This'll work.<br>> >><br>> >> Courtesy of Associated Content at:<br>> >><br>> >> http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2708945/utah_senator_proposes_eliminating_12th.html<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 <br>> >> Public<br>> >> Education Appropriations Subcommittee and suggested that Utah schools<br>> >> eliminate the twelfth grade and get rid of busing for high school <br>> >> 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 <br>> >> college<br>> >> admissions and will create substandard education. Strenuous <br>> >> objections<br>> >> from parents and teachers caused Buttars to back off somewhat and <br>> >> 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. <br>> >> My<br>> >> three other children have already graduated. As a parent, I believe <br>> >> kids<br>> >> are not fully matured at 17 years old and need the senior year to <br>> >> allow<br>> >> them more life experience. I want them to have the wonderful <br>> >> 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 <br>> >> market in<br>> >> southern Utah is in a desperate situation and certainly adding <br>> >> thousands<br>> >> of 17 years olds would not help the quality of life here for either <br>> >> the<br>> >> child or the community. What does a 17 year old do without school <br>> >> or a<br>> >> job? Frankly, many kids are not academically prepared well at <br>> >> junior year<br>> >> and that would negatively affect the colleges in Utah.<br>> >><br>> >> According to the Salt Lake Tribune (www.sltrib.com), Utah has a $700<br>> >> million budget shortfall, so $60 million is a significant cut. <br>> >> However,<br>> >> most parents will agree with teachers who say this grade is <br>> >> important to<br>> >> the development of the student. We are preparing them to enter the <br>> >> world<br>> >> in this grade. I have seen my own children sense that they are <br>> >> reaching a<br>> >> major goal in their life when completing the 12th grade and <br>> >> graduating<br>> >> from high school. Just because the state of Utah faces a budget <br>> >> crisis in<br>> >> education which every state has for the last 30 years, it is no <br>> >> 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 <br>> >> Utah<br>> >> Board of Education (www.usoe.k12.ut.us) it makes no sense to make <br>> >> students<br>> >> less prepared for college than they are already. Sen. Buttars <br>> >> proposal has<br>> >> caused a firestorm of attention from parents, teachers and students <br>> >> almost<br>> >> all of whom are against his plan. It would appear that the media <br>> >> frenzy<br>> >> over his suggestion would indicate it is not likely to get much <br>> >> 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 <br>> >> 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>> >> http://www.fsr.net<br>> >> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> >> =======================================================<br>> >><br>> ><br>> > =======================================================<br>> > List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br>> > http://www.fsr.net<br>> > mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> > =======================================================<br>> <br>> =======================================================<br>> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>> http://www.fsr.net <br>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> =======================================================<br> </body>
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