Senator Buttars, who has since backtracked a bit on the proposal, believes that a lot of seniors slack off in their final year of high school and just "play around." This ends up costing school districts money that perhaps may be allotted to extracurricular activities which some may deem unnecessary. So he favors a system of "accelerated graduation" that would get some students out of the system sooner. Opponents of the proposal argue that senior year is still necessary because it helps to mature the students, providing another year to excel academically, athletically, and creatively.

Obviously, this idea needs to be examined from several points of view. If students were able to meet all the required courses to graduate in three years instead of four, then why shouldn't they graduate early? In some cases honors students, who already outperform other students in their grade, often complete their basic requirements early and spend the 12th grade either taking more college-prep courses or several fun electives or activities. Clearly it depends on a student's goals after high school and how self-motivated they are.

Some students have a lighter load in senior year; complete classes scheduled earlier in the day and move on to work a part-time job or just go home. If there are students just hanging around school engaging in fun activities or causing distractions and mischief, should taxpayers have to pay for that?
 
Then there's the argument that students need that fourth year to help them mature for the responsibilities of young adulthood. While it is true that some 11th graders surpass 12th graders, and even some college freshman, the need for that last year in a structured, predictable environment may be important to the social development of many students. Also, not every high school graduate goes to college. Some go straight into the workforce, and others who have no clue, will require another year or two before figuring out exactly what they want to do "when they grow up."

On my Facebook page, I asked my friends their thoughts on the issue. One said he couldn't imagine going to college without first completing senior year. "That's where you get Calculus and Trig ... not to mention you need that year to deal with hormonal issues." He also believes that senior year provides a continuous flow of education for those planning to go to college right away. "Having gone to college years after I graduated, it was a lot harder to get into the swing, especially for math." That potentially lost year of high school could disrupt the habit of learning and studying, causing students starting college later, to have a tougher time getting back into the swing of things.

At least two of my friends drew the conclusion that compromising the education of generations to come could lead to a major decline in employability and self-development. "Take away 12th grade from schools in lower-income neighborhoods, like where I came from and you may as well incarcerate the failing student and put a broom in his hands."

Another friend, whose husband is from Egypt said, "Where my husband is from, you are geared from high school to go straight into medical school, etc. The problem though is due to a lack of social and emotional development these doctors and lawyers, in my opinion, do not possess that necessary element to really follow through with providing their best professionally to clients. There is a disconnect. But I do believe there is an economic incentive to create these extra years in any learning institution."

Overall, the majority of the feedback I received rejected the idea of making Year Four of high school optional. But with school districts and states around the nation facing dire budget crunches, all options for cutting costs will eventually end up on the table. This is just one of many other controversial proposals to come.

So, what do you think? Is making the fourth year of high school optional a smart proposal for saving money? Short of laying off more teachers and gutting extracurricular programs, what types of creative solutions should we pursue to help our schools weather the current economic storm?

Janet Grier is an editor and writer at Urban Ministries Inc., the parent company of UrbanFaith. She is a parent, a health enthusiast and unofficially serves as a Life Coach to many.

You've likely caught wind of this controversy already. Beck, the fiery and often humorous conservative talk show host on the FOX News network, told his radio and TV audiences last week that the terms are code for "communism" and "Nazism." He advised:

I beg you, look for the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on your church website. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words.

Just to be clear, he added:

Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!

We know Beck's words are all part of the theater of political punditry and ratings, designed to excite those who agree and rile up those who don't, so we doubt any minds are going to be changed either way in this debate. At the very least, though, Beck provides a great opportunity for folks to go back to the Scriptures and find out for themselves what God has to say about this scary notion of "social justice." A few places to start: Amos 5:22-24, Luke 4:18-19, Luke 7:22, Matthew 12:15-21.

Feel free to add your own favorite "justice" verses below.