Local Senator Threatens Tourism Boycott Over FCAT Testing and freep the poll!

WFTV ^ | 07/21/03 | WFTV

[Pikamax]

Local Senator Threatens Tourism Boycott Over FCAT Testing

POSTED: 11:43 a.m. EDT July 21, 2003

THE GRADES: Florida Public School Grades and FCAT Scores

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A local senator is giving Governor Bush an ultimatum to make some changes to the FCAT. Senator Gary Siplin is threatening a tourism boycott and says he has the backing of local tourism leaders.

Thirty days, that's how long state Senator Gary Siplin is giving Governor Bush to reconsider his position on the FCAT. We met with the senator and he says if the FCAT is not suspended within that time, he'll lead a boycott of Florida tourism.

Senator Siplin met with several leaders in the tourism industry including Disney World, the Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association earlier today and they've agreed to join him in his effort.

He says, they of course want to avoid a boycott. But they also realize that, as the state's moneymaker, they have the power to get the governor's attention.

Siplin sent a letter to Governor Bush on July 3rd, but didn't get a response. He thinks that'll change now.

43,000 third graders and 12,000 high school seniors struggled with the FCAT. Siplin says they shouldn't be held back for one test.

"Why sit back and allow a school system to destroy their minds by saying, you're going to school, you've made A's and B's all year long, but because of the FCAT, you can't advance to the 4th grade or get your diploma. That ain't right. It's immoral and that's why the ministers, the parents and we've agreed to boycott," says Siplin.

This will primarily be a team lobbying effort by Siplin and various tourism industry heads. They want a special session for the FCAT issue or another extension on the session going on now.

[Pikamax]

don't forget to freep the poll at the link above.

[Drango]

he'll lead a boycott of Florida tourism.... Senator Siplin met with several leaders in the tourism industry including Disney World, the Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association earlier today and they've agreed to join him in his effort.

Are these idiots gonna FReep themselves?

[trebb]

Isn't that kind of like taking your kids hostage and threatening harm to them to get your wife to do things your way? How the heck can people be so stupid as ti elect people that will do their state harm to get back at the other Party? The Dims are a blight...

[jocon307]

How can you boycott Tourism in the state you live in? This is supreme silliness.

[Hacksaw]

Sounds like a scene out of Blazing Saddles.

[Political Junkie Too]

...you've made A's and B's all year long, but because of the FCAT, you can't advance to the 4th grade or get your diploma. That ain't right..." says Siplin.

Perhaps he can start with the use of the word "ain't."

-PJ

[talleyman]

Disney's going to give the mouse a mickey? LOL!

[Drango]

If everyone doesn't give $1.00 immediately, I'm gonna hit my big toe with a hammer.

[PogySailor]

"Why sit back and allow a school system to destroy their minds by saying, you're going to school, you've made A's and B's all year long, but because of the FCAT, you can't advance to the 4th grade or get your diploma. That ain't right. It's immoral and that's why the ministers, the parents and we've agreed to boycott," says Siplin.

I'm sorry. If a child had actually studied enough to legitimately EARN A's & B's through out the year there's no way they could flunk the FCAT. All three of my kid's have had no problem with this test. Of course they have actually LEARNED something and we participated in their education.

Of course some people think the best thing to do is bitch about the test, rather than find out why kid's can't meet a minimal standard.

[FlJoePa]

As a FL resident, I applaud this boycott. I wonder if it's possible for these people to keep only New Yorkers and French Canadians out of our state?

[Jonathon Spectre]

We met with the senator and he says if the FCAT is not suspended within that time, he'll lead a boycott of Florida tourism.

Isn't an elected official promising he's going to go out of his way to harm his state sort of like treason?

BTW, totally disagree with the FCAT being used for 3rd-grade promotion, but if you can't pass it when you're a high school senior (after SIX opportunities) I feel no pity for you.

[Capitalism2003]

BUMP for the poll

[Capitalism2003]

The teachers spend the entire year working on SELF ESTEEM and making the little kids feel good about themself--throwing in a dose of political indoctrinations, and surprise...you end up with STUPID kids! These tests cover standard 3rd grade material...If the NEA actually taught the curriculum, there would be no problem here. Vote no in the poll. Dismantle the NEA...and push for vouchers. Competition can easily solve the problem.

[doc30]

Some of the sorry excuses I've heard about the FCAT from Miami area residents: it's not in Spanish so how can our kids pass it. I've also hear certain members of the black community complain that the test is racist. I guess that's because it's not written in ebonics and doesn't take the cultural sensitivity of the african american crowd into consideration. And these seniors who are failing the test have been trying to pass it since the 10th grade! No sympathy from me on this one.

[reformed_democrat]

Here's a link to the FCAT 4th Grade Reading Vocabulary Practice.

From the site:

Mastering the first 1,200 words (up to Level 120) gives students the minimum vocabulary skills needed to comprehend test questions and answers in order to pass the FCAT Reading Test with a "LEVEL 2" score.

Warning! Spending time on FCAT Study Guides and Practice Tests is time wasted if students have not first mastered the minimum vocabulary needed to read test questions fluently. This is why we have developed the FCAT vocabulary list.

	LEVEL 1			LEVEL 2			LEVEL 3
short a			short e			short i
	am			red			if
	an			men			in
	at			let			it
	as			get			it's
	and			yes			is
	can			tell			did
	had			when			him
	has			went			his
	the			was			have
	said			from			don't

Sorry that's so large. I'm not sure how to resize the type without messing up the html for the entire section.

[Gunslingr3]

BTW, totally disagree with the FCAT being used for 3rd-grade promotion, but if you can't pass it when you're a high school senior (after SIX opportunities) I feel no pity for you.

Why? What's on the test? If it is ensuring a 3rd grader can read before going to 4th grade, what's the problem?

[eyespysomething]

Is this what 3rd graders have to be able to read to go on to 4th grade? Yikes, my first grader can do that.

[reformed_democrat]

It looks like that's the case. I didn't look at all 126 lists -- I cheated and skipped to the last page -- but the words all look to be on the "See Spot Run" level.

If third graders can't read and understand these words, the Teachers' Union should be sued for breach of contract.

[windchime]

77%-Yes
23%-No

Needs help.

[BigBobber]

Surely we're living in Jerry Seinfeld's "Bizarro World" where everything is backwards.

Shouldn't the parents be up in arms protesting the schools for not being tough enough and giving phoney As and Bs, rather than throwing out the test?