Education is bad, mmkay? (ITT: Utah tries to get rid of the 12th grade)

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-6213596-503544.html

This is pretty unbeliveable. One lawmaker, in an attempt to cut down on Utah's $700 million budget deficit is proposing big cuts in education. Now that in itself isn't anything new. After all, we hear about states cutting teachers and cIasses all the time when budgets get tight. However, this guy decided that wouldn't be enough. Instead he's proposing that the state make 12th grade optional in the hope that most kids will just choose to graduate early and thus spare the state most of the expense of an entire grade level. Now if that seems extreme to you it's also worth noting that this is actually a step-down from his previous proposal of eliminating the 12th grade altogether. I get that there's a huge budget deficit that needs fixing, but I'm amazed this guy has the gall to eliminate an entire grade level from his state's educational system considering how much the US lags behind in secondary school education (and I believe that Utah is in at least the bottom half as far as US state high school rankings are concerned).

That said, I know that other countries do let kids out of school earlier than schools in the US. In the UK, I believe, you graduate high school at 16 at which point you have the option of going on to GCSEs for two years before heading off to university. However, I'm not terribly familiar with the UK's school system and I could be dead wrong on all of that. Plus, I'm not sure how the GCSE cIasses would correlate to American education levels (it would seem from what I've seen British users on here and other sites saying about it that GCSE cIasses are more like AP cIasses in the US than the actual start of college). So perhaps 12th grade isn't that necessary after all, although either way imo the US still has a ways to go in education reform before we can start thinking about shortening the length of students' educational careers.

So, what do you guys think about this? Good idea, bad idea? Is 12th grade even necessary?

edit: Now with clickable link!

I'd hardly call 12th grade enough as it is. Most kids coming out of high school are barely educated enough to survive on their own nowadays.

You might want to change your title. One person is proposing this. Utah isn't trying to pass this.

I doubt he finished the 12th grade.

12th grade isn't all that useful tbh.JigglyWiggly_

I doubt he finished the 12th grade.

Ragnarok1051

QFT

but really, i think collage should be required.

Go for it I say, chances are the students are gonna have to take the classes they missed in a University or College anyway....

[QUOTE="Ragnarok1051"]

I doubt he finished the 12th grade.

narutoisapirate

QFT

but really, i think collage should be required.

[QUOTE="narutoisapirate"]

[QUOTE="Ragnarok1051"]

I doubt he finished the 12th grade.

Dman0017

QFT

but really, i think collage should be required.

then off with there heads!

Our education isn't exactly jamming now, education isn't a place we should be looking to save at.

Our education isn't exactly jamming now, education isn't a place we should be looking to save at.

Boston_Boyy

[QUOTE="Dman0017"][QUOTE="narutoisapirate"]

QFT

but really, i think collage should be required.

narutoisapirate

then off with there heads!

[QUOTE="Maniacc1"]That dude is a nut job. magicalclick

[QUOTE="narutoisapirate"]

[QUOTE="Dman0017"] what if they don't want to make a collage? :PMousetaches

then off with there heads!

because i have mass skills with death?!

please.

What a silly notion this is, especially when considering the circumstances.

I agree that scrapping 12th grade is a terrible idea, but that's not what this guy is trying to do now. 12th grade would be optional ONLY to those who met the graduation requirements after the 3rd year. I think that's absolutely fair.

How about privatizing it? I suppose it would make sense from an American point of view.

What's really needed are more life skills classes. There should definitely be classes that teach students how to prepare their taxes, manage personal financing, etc.

I view education as an investment, by cutting it you may save a few dollars now but when the next generation comes about with even less than the typical american highschool graduate things will not be pretty.

Well considering the american education system is kind of weird in that people send college applications in year 11 instead of year 12 I don't think its such a bad idea. I mean seriously what is the point of year 12 in the american system when you already know what uni you're going to get into beforehand?

I think they should bring grade 13 back. (canada).

Well considering the american education system is kind of weird in that people send college applications in year 11 instead of year 12 I don't think its such a bad idea. I mean seriously what is the point of year 12 in the american system when you already know what uni you're going to get into beforehand?

oldmanriver1

No, you send applications starting in the fall of your 12th year, and usually don't hear back from colleges until winter or spring. The only admissions process I'm aware of where you actually do apply in your junior year is med school admissions, but that only concerns university students, not high schoolers.

[QUOTE="oldmanriver1"]

Well considering the american education system is kind of weird in that people send college applications in year 11 instead of year 12 I don't think its such a bad idea. I mean seriously what is the point of year 12 in the american system when you already know what uni you're going to get into beforehand?

gameguy6700

No, you send applications starting in the fall of your 12th year, and usually don't hear back from colleges until winter or spring. The only admissions process I'm aware of where you actually do apply in your junior year is med school admissions, but that only concerns university students, not high schoolers.

School I go to currently you send it in Spring year 11 and Autumn year 12 and you usually hear back from the uni around fall or winter year 12. Still leaves a period in the second half of year 12 where you basically don't need to try because you already know you made a university.

If 12th grade is anything like the final secondary school year in Ireland then its not that big of a deal, sure it means cramming study for final exams into one year, but here you learn the bulk of the senior course in 5th year of secondary school.

If 12th grade is anything like the final secondary school year in Ireland then its not that big of a deal, sure it means cramming study for final exams into one year, but here you learn the bulk of the senior course in 5th year of secondary school.

Bitter_Altmer

I'm not sure how the GCSE cIasses would correlate to American education levels

gameguy6700

It's a horrible idea. This is why there needs to be more in federal stimulus money, because a lot of states are having a lot of problems with their budgets because of the recession, and so they've been having to consider cutting what are vital programs because they aren't getting a sufficient amount of aid from the federal government. Not only is that bad economics, but it's disturbing from a moral standpoint.

12th grade isn't all that useful tbh.JigglyWiggly_

you know, this guy has a point. I bet if 90% of people thought back to senior year, they'd realize they took mostly fluff courses for extra credits and getting stuff squared away for college the next fall.

even the most tightly wound, straight-A, HS students seem to loosen up senior year and "smell the roses".

although, that all said, I'd never vote to cut out grade 12. (or any grade for that matter).

I've never been in that grade, so I can't say, but that sounds really stupid.