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Show doesn't something which represents a radical departure from current traditions deserve more discussion? PRESIDENT·s LETTER Educational activities have had their effect on the Salt Lake League Board. we have lobbied hard for tax increases for education in legislative session. Nancy Melling, who has stepped in as treasurer, has had a hard time getting to League books because as coITID1unity council chairperson at Highland High School she has had countless meetings over the closing of one of the Salt Lake School District's high schools. Jane Holt, our editor, has been occuppied with the difficulties over relocation of the open classroom optional program in the distr ict and I have been amazed and trol~ by two laws passed in the 1987 l eg : :ure concerning education. It is no secret that many would like to rid the system of the cost of providing education in the 12th grade. The newspapers have full of stories abou~ h<?W seniors "waste" their last year. If 1t 1s possible to graduate in the 11th grade, will the system encourage students to do so so education dollars will be saved? Will graduation requirements, recently strengthened, be relaxed so that students can graduate early? (The ~ecord g~ins in ACT scores which have received national attention can be attributed to the strengthened graduation requirements enacted by the state school board three years ago.) If the nwnber of c~edi~s currently required for gradu~t1on 1s to be obtained in three years, it almost · certainly means students will have to take the released-time seminary classes after school hours. I am concerned that recent gains may be sacrificed to get students out of the system earlier. If you are concerned about this bill, call Governor Bangerter's office and ask him to veto Senate Bill 228. In ... ,...e last 5 minutes of the Legislative session, the Utah House passed a bill without an iota of discussion which has far reaching ramifications for Utah's educational system. The bill, Senate Bill 228, in its original form provided for the tern1ination with a diploma of students at the end of the 11th grade. A high school could offer designated 12th grade classes with credits that must be accepted by an institution of higher learning in the state as the first year of college or vocational education. It passed the Senate with only 2 dissenting votes. Another law nay adversely affect education. The law allowing state employees and educators to retire after 25-years with 60% of their salary may prove attractive to many excellent teachers. It is true that districts can save money by hiring more inexperienced teachers but students may suffer. After study, the State League decided that the bill did not offer quality education and deserved thoughtful discussion in an interim corrmittee. Letters were sent to all Salt Lake County representatives on the next to last day of the legislature asking them to defeat the bill and refer the matter to interim cormnittee. A substitute bill was less objectionable but still carried a fiscal note, "Exact fiscal impact is impossible to determine given the available data. However, additional costs may be incurred to implement the program because core curriculum and graduation requirements would require revision." At 11:45 PM on the last day, the bill was introduced with the note that it allowed bright students to graduate at the end of the 11th grade and passed without discussion. I AM APPALLED- Please mark March 16 down on your calendars. Barbara-lyn Morris, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Gifted Conference, will meet League members interested in education. She is fantastic and we are lucky to have her in Salt Lake this year as her husband spends a sabbatical at the University. ----·,·r••..,----- ---- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Salt Lake Voter -1- March 1987 |
