Class Dismissed

In his article, "Class Dismissed," Walter Kirn argues that the grade 12 school year is a redundant year, that could be better used to prepare young men and women for their adult lives. He describes grade 12 students as being stuck in a "holding pattern"  and a "fidgety waiting period." Kirn believes many students are actually ready for Post Secondary education in their twelfth grade, and since they spend so many years studying, it would be more valuable overall, if study time could be reduced by one year, so they could get on with their postgraduate careers earlier. Also, those students who would prefer to enter the labour force after high school, are forced to stay and take courses they know they will never need in life, so they can get the credits to graduate from high school.  Many of these students, who are already working evening jobs, skip classes because they are too exhausted or because there aren't enough hours to get all their assignments done. Kirn says, "They may as well spend the whole year in detention — which some of them, bored and restless, end up doing." Similarly, students who plan to attend two-year programs in community colleges, Kirn believes, could "just get started early and read “Moby Dick" for pleasure, if they wish, rather than to earn a grade that they don’t need?" In sum, Kirn's article contends that most students would benefit from a shortened education process, that could be more individualized in the senior year.


In my opinion, students are too overworked in their final year of highschool. Many students end up taking a year off due simply to exhaustion and/or lack of funds because they were unable to work with their heavy course load. Grade 12 lacks the preparation that individuals need for adulthood. Although students may be able to determine the solution of a chemical using titration, it's likely that they haven't acquired life skills that are essential to adult life such as how to apply for student loans, calculating taxes and healthy budgeting. In conclusion, it is believed that students would benefit from this vision becoming a reality for school systems at a universal level.

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