Senior year is marked by graduation, senior portraits, Ethics Day and, above all, senioritis. This final year of high school provides minimal intellectual stimulation, especially after the start of second semester. By making grade 12 optional, students can choose the academic path that is best suited for their needs.
The complete elimination of grade 12 was proposed by Utah State Senator Chris Buttars. After public outcry, he amended his proposal to make senior year optional, a choice that is already available in 21 states, including Virginia. According to Buttars, the plan would save up to $60 million annually. Buttars? proposal also calls for collegiate financial aid for students who only attend three years of high school.
The amended plan would improve the quality of education for all students, not just those participating. States that offer the option, as well as Buttars? plan, require students to complete specific graduation requirements, which include a minimum number of credits in English, science, math and history.
By condensing their time in high school, academically inclined students could take a more rigorous path of core studies and avoid frivolous electives. Keeping students engaged in difficult classes is the best way to avoid the onset of senioritis, which plagues students who are taking easy classes that allow them to slack off.
Those who do not feel comfortable with this path, however, can continue on the traditional four-year plan. The $60 million that the states estimate saving can be used to fund educational programs for the remaining students, instead of being used to attempt to educate the second-semester seniors that have already mentally checked out.
While textbooks are an adequate teaching tool, students learn most effectively through experience. Instead of sitting in a class room for eight hours a day, students could use their would-be senior year of high school to get a job or participate in a co-op. By doing so, these would-be seniors could gain experience preparing them for the realities of the ?real world,? better than any textbook. Additionally, skipping senior year provides the opportunity for students to earn money and begin to cover the burdening costs of a college education.
While Buttars? plan to eliminate senior year is radical, his amended proposal to make it optional should not be dismissed. The plan allows students to customize their education to meet the demands of their future plans. Students could begin college earlier or use the year to get a job and gain vital work experience. For a year with only nostalgic value, senior year will not be missed by serious students.
2010-03-24