A proposed law for Florida: Let kids graduate from high school in three years if they're smart enough and fulfull the alternative requirements. Fixes the overcrowding problem (although I doubt that was ever an issue for 12th-graders), lets kids get on with their lives, and teachers can focus on the remaining kids who presumably need more help. Who could complain about this?
Well, for starters, there are critics who say that this law would "deprive early graduates of extracurricular activities and senior year milestones." Whaaat? If a kid cares that much about her senior prom, she'll stay in school. But if she's smart and wants to get out early, why not let her?
I wonder if this is what critics are really pissed about:
Under the option, students can graduate with six fewer credits, as long as they double up on English classes to earn four credits and study a foreign language for two years. They are allowed to skip several elective credits, including physical education, art and life management courses.
Oh, I see. Doubling up on English classes and getting a foreign language under one's belt is not as important as sticking around for those life management courses. God forbid kids should forgo these electives.
"Kids are having a hard enough time as it is in college," said Okeechobee County School District Assistant Superintendent Lee Dixon. "You're giving up the fourth year of high school math, and high school science. You don't want to leave it up to kids to shortchange themselves."
Other educators say students who have six credits less than their peers when they graduate won't be as competitive in university admissions. And they'll likely be too far from their 18th birthdays to immediately enlist in the military.
So they'll work at the Gap until they're old enough to enlist, if that's their goal. Do these educators really think that any kid who cares about being competitive for college will deliberately shortchange themselves by six credits? Those who want or need the courses will stay; guidance counselors can let juniors know what colleges expect in the way of credits. The kids who don't need these credits, like student Cole Crockwell, just want to get on with their lives. Maybe some kids want to fulfill the minimum requirements and get out because they know they'll need to work for a couple of years before even starting college. Why stand in their way?
I know that in South Carolina students can graduate at least a semester early - at least, that was the case in the 1980's. It's surprising to find out that that's not the case in Florida.
Posted by kswygert at September 9, 2003 01:59 PM