CNN 2010-02-24

I think it all depends on the student, obviously. We like Senator Buttars raising the issue of the significance of the 12th year of high school. In Utah, we're finding however that the 12th year really needs to be intensified¹.
We need to have full four years of mathematics, we need four years of English, we're just seeing too many students coming into college not prepared to be successful. And so in working with the state superintendent² of education, the State Board of Education to raise our graduation standards, our concern is really that eliminating the 12th year really moves in the wrong direction. We do compliment the senators about providing options. Some kids are really able to move on and I think we need to facilitate that.

PHILLIPS: You bring up a good point, Bill, that's a really good point. If you make that senior year more intense and you offer more, does that better the chances that maybe a student would be more motivated in school, more motivated to want to go to college.

Also, too, if you skip the senior year, would that affect the application process of getting into a good college? Would a college say, hmm, I don't know if I want a student that skipped the senior year.

SEDERBURG: Well, I think a lot of those standards are more determined³ by ACT tests and the courses you've taken as opposed to just having a 12th year. In that sense, Senator Buttars is onto something.

However, what we're finding is about half of our students are not prepared for mathematics at the college level. Almost a third are not prepared in writing skills. So we would really like to have the high school system take the 12th year serious and bring everybody up to a world competitive level and then allow some options for students that are ready to move on either through advanced placement.

Or in Utah, we use concurrent⁴ enrollment⁵ as a mechanism⁶ of doing this as well. So I think our position is just to strengthen K-12 and use that 12th year.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's interesting. We definitely will follow up and see what happens. I'm curious, you know, while I have you both, so, Senator, wasn't there a memory from the 12th grade that, you know, you just couldn't live without? Something must have happened to where you wouldn't have wanted to miss the 12th grade.

BUTTARS: Well, yes and no. I can't believe that it makes sense to spend $120 million so I can go to the prom.

PHILLIPS: Oh. Did you not have a good prom date, Senator?

BUTTARS: I could have eliminated my prom situation.

PHILLIPS: Yes, but did you have a memory that you can't forget, Bill?

BUTTARS: I would have been happy to give away that memory from my 12th grade.

PHILLIPS: Yes, I know. I think we've all got those deadly prom stories.

Gentlemen, we will definitely in a serious nature follow up on what happens. It's definitely an interesting discussion. Senator Chris Buttars and Bill Sederburg, commissioner⁷ of higher education, appreciate you two, thank you very much.

SEDERBURG: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Thank you.

 

1 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 concurrent   

adj.同时发生的，一致的

参考例句：

• You can't attend two concurrent events!你不能同时参加两项活动！
• The twins had concurrent birthday. 双胞胎生日在同一天。

5 enrollment   

n.注册或登记的人数；登记

参考例句：

• You will be given a reading list at enrollment.注册时你会收到一份阅读书目。
• I just got the enrollment notice from Fudan University.我刚刚接到复旦大学的入学通知书。

6 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。