The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 7: FL's 'Other' Voucher Program, for Students with Disabilities

Responses to this Jeb series, from The Daytona Beach News-Journal's forum ^ | Dec. 19, 2001 | summer

[summer]

Amore, I'm so glad I could perhaps help you out. There is a link in my editorial to the program.

Thanks so much for taking the time to check out this thread. And, while I do think it's great for parents of disabled students to have options, like a voucher or a scholarship to a private school, it's also really wonderful for me to hear your sister is happy with the public school!!! :)

[summer]

sister = sister-in-law

[summer]

BTW, see post #23 for a new link that works -- as my "Source" link did not; and, see post #4 for a working link for Article #1.

[Alamo-Girl]

Merry Christmas to you, summer!

[summer]

Hey, Alamo-Girl, thanks so much! And, I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well! :)

[Amore]

Both my niece's & nephew's teachers at this school have been very good. I've met them all. My nephew was only just recently found by the school to qualify for special teaching (I don't know any of the technical terms). All I know is that the teacher goes from class to class working with the students who need the extra help, so that the students don't have to leave their own classroom.

[summer]

Both my niece's & nephew's teachers at this school have been very good.

I've known many really good special ed teachers in the public schools, too. And, BTW, some private schools, like the one where I taught, will not even accept special ed kids. gatorman gave some very good advice in the beginning of this thread, about letting the consumer beware. It is possible to get a great situation in a public school, but, not everyone has that.

One reason I can support Governor Bush's use of vouchers is that his voucher / scholarships only become available in after there is a lack of progress in the public school setting. Also, parents have a lot of choice in FL as to which public school they want to send their child to attend.

So, with all the choice in public schools -- and the increased financial backing and other support Gov. Bush constantly gives to public schools -- the public schools are certainly not abandoned, and they all have a chance to improve and become outstanding. But, if they don't, well, then a parent really should be able to go elsewhere. I think that's only fair.

[summer]

available in after = available after

[Amore]

Oh, I think they'd definitely like to keep him in public schools. But already, in 4th grade, homework is a big struggle, and it's only going to get harder. I'm just not sure he'll be able to keep up, what with his CAPD difficulties. Apparently, too, he has short-term memory problems, so though my sister-in-law works and works with him, a lot of things (most noticeably, his weekly spelling words) just don't "stick."

[Mudboy Slim]

"As a proponent of vouchers in general, I like what seems to be a "backdoor" approach."

While I like any progress towards full privatization of K-12 Education, why must we use the "backdoor"?! I work in some underprivileged neighborhoods and meet the kids and parents who are entrapped by these less-than-mediocre schools...they have the same dreams and aspirations as you or I, why must they be condemned to inner-city schools that don't teach?! Or at least they don't teach AS WELL as their Private School counterparts. In any event, this ought to be a huge selling point to innner-city parents and we should also be making a pitch to the high-quality teachers out there, of which there are certainly many. Good teachers could benefit incredibly from the De-Collectivization of the Schools...there'd be a bidding war for them!! It's the poorly-educated, unmotivated teachers who need the damned Unions. Let them find other occupations in which their indifference does not condemn another generation to mediocrity!

Right must separate the Unions from the Teachers--and the inner-city parents from the RATS--on this issue!!

FReegards...MUD

[Amore]

I see another option. His parents are concerned about the middle school he would be assigned to. It looks like under this program he would be eligible to go to a better public middle school. Do you know, would he be able to choose any middle school he wanted to attend, or only certain designated ones?

[summer]

With respect to spelling -- a lot of kids have trouble with spelling because they don't understand concepts like prefixes, suffixes, origins of words and root words. Of course, some words in the English language seem to break all the rules!

But, I notice homeschooled kids spend more time learning the actual origin of words. When I watch these kids win spelling bees they can usually ascertain the root of the word as being of Latin, Greek or French origin, and they know the whole family of words derived from that root word. Many kids in public schools don't get that kind of in-depth understanding because it's simply not taught. A big mistake, in my view.

You'd be surprised how many kids become fascinated by the above concepts when you teach such ideas to kids.

And, I don't buy that whole philosophy about spelling not being important, which is what we were told when we trained in teacher college. I think a student who is a good speller becomes a far more confident reader, because such a student will want to, and will know how to, figure out the meanings of unknown, new vocabulary words.

[summer]

While I like any progress towards full privatization of K-12 Education

Not me, Mudboy. Did you know that President Bush sent his daughters to public high schools in Texas? Do you think that's because he couldn't afford to send them to private schools? Or, is it because he and First Lady Bush were happy with the quality of education in those public schools?

Not all private schools are great. The idea that just because a school is private means it's automatically better than every public school is just plain false, and parents (and teachers) who have substantial experience in both settings will honestly tell you that.

So, dream on about the illusion you have with respect to all schools being wonderful just because they are private. Not true in every case. Believe me.

And, don't even get me started on how much LESS money teachers in private school are paid in comparison to their public school counterparts. The only reason any of those private school teachers stay is because the kids are so well behaved and the parents are involved. If those two elements didn't exist, many private school teachers would quit their jobs in about five minutes.

[summer]

The only reason any = ...reason many...

[summer]

Do you know, would he be able to choose any middle school he wanted to attend, or only certain designated ones?

I think she'd have to start with the local school district, and ask questions about their policies. In every school district I know about in FL, a parent is allowed to send their child outside the assigned public school, to another public school, provided they apply in time to the local administrative office and meet other requirements (ie, they are willing to provide transportation, there is room in that other school, etc). Sometimes the option to attend is by lottery, if the school is a magnet school. See what she can find out first at the local level. And, FL has a ton of educational and school info on their DOE (Department of Education) web site.

[rightofrush]

Once again, your faith and trust in Jeb Bush is rewarded.

Thanks for bring to our attention to a least one Republican deserving of unqualified suppoprt.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I read this one.. but it definetly deserves another bump!! I'm pretty dog gone impressed with the "brothers". :o)

[summer]

Once again, your faith and trust in Jeb Bush is rewarded.

Thanks for bring to our attention to a least one Republican deserving of unqualified support.

ROR, so nice to hear from you! You missed a thread the other night, when someone decided that Jeb Bush and Connie Rice should be the GOP ticket for 2008. I have to admit I think that's a winning ticket!

Thanks for taking the time to check out this thread. :)

[summer]

Hey, VHAW, you should check out posts #56-#58 (I think that's right). If you like the suggestion you read from Dog Gone to me, and my response, please do freepmail me! :)

[summer]

BTW, you don't mind, of course, if I add that you are a TEACHER, do you, ROR? :)