Conservatives suggest cutting Utah’s budget deficit by eliminating mandatory 12th grade.

[stevedeshazer]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/16/conservatives-eliminating-12th-grade/

As states around the country face budget crises, “deficit peacocks” continue to demand cutting social spending while ruling out tax increases on those who have benefited immensely from years of conservative policies. In Utah, deficit peacocks are suggesting eliminating mandatory 12th grade to help close the state’s $700 million budget gap:

The sudden buzz over the relative value of senior year stems from a recent proposal by state Sen. Chris Buttars that Utah make a dent in its budget gap by eliminating the 12th grade. The notion quickly gained some traction among supporters who agreed with the Republican’s assessment that many seniors frittered away their final year of high school, but faced vehement opposition from other quarters, including in his hometown of West Jordan.



'I didn't git no educashun, it din't hurt me none'

[Uben]

1. Keep em dumb and poor!

Seems to be the right-wing theory of politics, and it has worked pretty good for them, too.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. That should cut the drop-out rate.

Not to mention a bump in the NCLB program with less chance for lower averages and thus, federal funding.

[LynneSin]

3. Actually there could be the validity to this

If a child can get accepted into college while in 11th grade, why force them to attend a senior year. This isn't just for 4-year colleges but even trade schools too. I think if I were to create a policy such as this I would set it up in a way that says you have to have something else lined up in order to skip the senior year.

[damyank913]

4. There's nothing wrong with this.

In fact, since we are talking about Utah, why not remove all the girls from classrooms and bring back polygamy. that'll cut the student population in half.

[Kokonoe]

5. Children who quit would simply be dropping out since the 12th

grade would still be in place.
Employers will want to know the number of years in school.

[FarCenter]

6. The thinkprogress.org link brought up a "blocked fake antivirus install request" diagnostic

[Dark]

7. While as a student I would have loved this idea, now I realize that senior year was an important

part of education.

Why is it that conservatives always want to cut education?

[Jennicut]

8. I grew up immensely during my senior year of high school.

I think it would be ridiculous to cut it out. But conservatives hate education anyway.