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10:06:00 AM EST
Hearing Closer (Live) -- Nine Inch Nails
Huh?
Colorado lawmakers have asked education officials to study the possibility of eliminating the 12th grade and establishing a year of preschool instead. They said it would better prepare students for college by giving them an early start and possibly save money.
Sure it'll save money. Because, you know, when all those Colorado high students aren't getting into college, because they haven't gotten a complete high school education, that's money that won't have to be spent on college tuition. Also, those ill-educated Colorado teenagers can start right off in their life-long food service industry careers. What a brilliant idea.
Can someone clue me in to the exact moment Americans started having contempt for the idea that it's a fine thing to educate young people, and how far we plan to take this contempt? I'd really like to know. Because, you know, my daughter starts school next year, and I think it would be neat if she were allowed to finish school and not get booted out sometime in her high school years because it's not convenient or cheap to have her educated.
But the kids would be getting an extra year of preschool! Well, agreed that preschool is important, but I happen to think that trading a year of math, literature, science, history and languages for a year of coloring and sorting beads by shape is not an equivalent exchange. I think most parents are qualified to handle coloring and sorting beads. It's the rare parent who has the personal or educational resources to replace a kid's senior year.
Honestly. I don't think I've heard a more stupid idea this entire year.
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I agree 100%. I could never have contemplated not finishing high school. What I want to know is why children are allowed to drop out of high school at 15-16 anyway? This should not be allowed. Going through school is the easiest thing a person will ever do in their entire lifetime, if they can't make it through 12-13 years (if they decide not to go to college) then how are they going to deal with things when they get really hard? 12th. grade should be required for all.
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"Yeah, but that's what Webb is there for, right?"
Heh. Yeah, if only it didn't cost, what? $36,000 a year?
Webb, incidentally, is the private high school I attended as their annual charity case. Fabulous school and I reccommend it to everyone if they can swing it. But of course not everyone can. -
I don't have children. But I don't think sending them to school at an earlier age is an answer for anything. Kids need time to be kids. Some children aren't ready for the 1st grade at 6yrs, to force kids younger to go to school is tragic in my thoughts. And you are right. When did convenience and money start having anything to do with school? (Ok, for college maybe) Kids aren't getting the education they NEED now. What will they receive then?
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Yeah, but that;s what Webb is there for, right? :)
11/20/03 12:34 AM