More Dumbing Down of America

Get Rid of 12th Grade in Utah to Save Money, Says Senator
Associated Content Community, Published by McCarvel 2/17/2010

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.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, 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, it makes no sense to make students [even] less prepared for college than they are already.

This is really the way to compete in the world markets. The good people of our U.S.A. complain about immigrants getting the jobs, and our corporations are complaining about the lack of qualified job applicants, as Microsoft is. And Congress keeps a lid on the H-1B Visas, so MS builds a facility in just over the border in Canada to hire foreign professionals. H-1B Visas are for immigrant scientists, engineers, programmers, research analysts, management consultants, and others with a Bachelor's or higher degree. These are not 11th Grade ‘graduates’.