(from KSL.com)
The Utah's governors race heated up this week when religion was inserted into education policy. (It was just a matter of time for Utah). Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon proposed a number of education reforms. One that I absolutely agree with: adding additional math and science requirements for high school graduation. In our vastly changing world, these skills (along with excellent writing) are vital for success in the job market. A highly educated workforce is key not only for personal income, but also the state's economy as a whole. Sadly I think our high school graduates are given the wrong idea when the minimum requirement for graduation is 9th grade Geometry. Another worrisome statistic is that the average math ACT score for the entering class at Weber State University is 20.9 and at the University of Utah it is 23.4. Remember it takes a math score of 23 to be exempted from remedial mathematics. (Taking classes on the same level as beginning high school algebra).
Governor Herbert's response? We can't strengthen our graduation requirements because we would have to
get rid of seminary. Really?! I am sorry governor but during my senior year, most of my class were taking Principles of Underwater Basket-weaving (not really, but classes from the same tier). I wonder if the Governor is truly worried about the religious education of high schoolers (he is the governor, not the state bishop) or about inserting religion in order to win reelection. Don't get me wrong, I love seminary, but we need to move ahead in pubic education or risk falling behind.
The governor continues, accusing his challenger of not caring about public education because he sends his children to a private Catholic school. Wait a second, wasn't the governor taking it upon himself to defend religious instruction? I don't know....I gave up trying to understand. It is an election year, of course.
If you increase graduation requirements, you should not give up seminary, but maybe the "basket-weaving" classes. I am for increasing the minimum requirements in math and science to at least one more class each. Students should take Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II. They should also take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Physics is good because it is a science that can show the students more applications of their mathematics in the real world, something they always want to know.
ReplyDeleteI believe that movies like High School Musical promote a focus on these "basket-weaving" courses and not on core classes that will actually help students become productive citizens. They look at a high school and evaluate it on the number and variety of clubs, not on their core classes like math, English, science, and social studies. Recently I heard a father talk about his son entering middle school. He said they made his son choose a club. He said that his son did not know what club to do and so was going to participate in chess for now. This push is now coming down to middle school. Not only do they have to stress about core classes, but clubs too. Middle school is hard enough for some kids.
Now that we're in Ohio its interesting to me how behind Utah education is. The graduation requirements you're hoping for for Utah all ready apply to Andrea. (My class dodged that bullet)She has to take 4 years of math, science and English to graduate and Ohio is thinking of dropping its state graduation standardized test (here the OGT in Utah the UBSCIT) and instead requiring for graduation a score of 20 on the ACT. And as for seminary after doing two years of early morning seminary I have no sympathy for those kids, we make time for school and seminary even if it means waking up early.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Diane on this one. We make seminary too easy for the kids in Utah. No where else in the nation do we give time for religious study. Our time at school is precious and if we're going to require more we have to get rid of seminary. Early morning seminary isn't so bad. You are more committed to learning if you get up that early any way.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they just move to early morning seminary? I think it would be good to make church more of a choice for high school students. Many other places have seminary outside of school hours.
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