Ribault High now a voucher school - First FL voucher school named

Students at Ribault High School will become the first in Northeast Florida eligible for vouchers after the Jacksonville school received a second F from the state within four years.

Overall, however, the region's school systems saw increases in the numbers of higher-performing schools and some saw elimination of lower-performing schools.

Seven schools in Northeast Florida received an F: Six in Duval County and a charter school in St. Johns County. Last year, Duval County's dozen F schools were the only ones in the region.

Out of 228 schools in the region's six school systems, 41 percent received As in the state's A through F grading scale. Forty-six percent received Bs or Cs and about a fourth of the schools received Ds.

Gov. Jeb Bush and Education Commissioner Jim Horne announced the grades during a news conference yesterday in Tallahassee.

Florida had six times as many A schools this year as it did in when Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test use began in 1999. Also, the number of failing schools has dropped by more than half since then.

There were nine double F schools in Florida this year. Seven of those schools, including Ribault, have students who are eligible for school vouchers for the first time.

"We would like to encourage them [Ribault parents and students] to stay with their school," Duval County schools Superintendent John Fryer said. "It's best to hang in there and prove you can achieve with what you have."

Students at Ribault also have the option to transfer one of four other public schools: First Coast High School, Frank H. Peterson Academies, Mandarin High School, or Baldwin Middle-Senior High School. Transportation to the schools will be provided, except for Baldwin. Parents have until July 1 to apply for a school voucher.

First, for the school to improve, it needs to change its' name. I've always had a problem with Jean Ribault. The man was a French Huguenot who came to the new world and tried to set up a colony near Jax in Spanish territory. He was first asked to leave by the Spanish,led by Pedro Menendez. He refused. Ribault was executed by the Spanish in the culmination of a massacre, getting the French out of Florida. Hence, setting up the Spanish establishment of Saint Augustine.

Also, even back in the late 16th century, the French were attempting to negotiate a surrender. But, of course!

Jean Ribault was just another French surrender-monkey.

So, start by re-naming the high school!

He was first asked to leave by the Spanish,led by Pedro Menendez. He refused. Ribault was executed by the Spanish in the culmination of a massacre, getting the French out of Florida. Hence, setting up the Spanish establishment of Saint Augustine.

Also, even back in the late 16th century, the French were attempting to negotiate a surrender. But, of course!

Actually, the massacres (there were two, near what is now known as Matanzas Inlet) occurred regardless of Ribault and his mens' desire to surrender.

The French under Ribault had sailed south en force to evict the Spaniards from their new settlement at St. Augustine. A storm (most likely a Northeaster, not a Hurricane) blew the ships ashore in two groups south of present Flagler County.

As they wandered north, they came to an inlet now known as Matanzas. It was too deep and the current too swift to cross. Menendez arrived at the inlet (alerted to the presence of the Frenchmen by Timuquan Indians) with just a handful of men. He transported the French, whom greatly outnumbered and were better equipped than Menedez's gaggle, across the inlet a few at a time.

They were asked to swear allegiance to Spain. Those that did not were executed. Many of the ones that did were put to the sword as well. The Spaniards spared the few men they felt would serve a purpose. Supplies were limited, and Menendez didn't need more mouths to feed.

It is interesting to note that the High School nearest the slaughter site (just a few miles away on the other side of the Matanzas River) is named after Pedro Menendez.

As to why a High School should be named after Ribault, you are correct in asking "why bother(?)." The fort he built no longer exists (Fort Caroline is a replica, and no one knows where the original was located), and, other than causing the blood of 200 of his men to decorate the dunes, Ribault's accomplishments in Florida were few.

For the record (trying to tie this post back into the thread) Pedro Menendez High IS NOT a voucher school! :)

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