Minority students reduce gap on tests [thanks to Jeb's emphasis on education reform]

The Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel ^ | Jan. 24, 2002 | Bill Hirschman, Education Writer

[summer]

Gov. Jeb Bush has raised expectations for minorities, and the results are now in: more and more of FL's minority students are succeeding.

For decades, Florida's minority students struggled to escape a reputation for doing poorly on Florida exams. Educators despaired of bridging the chasm between what minorities achieved and what white students accomplished.

But evidence is emerging that intense efforts by students, parents and educators are beginning to shrink the gap.

The lowest-performing minority students have made significant gains on state tests during the past three years, according to new figures.

[summer]

I found this article in the Governor's weekly e-newletter, published by the governor's office, which provides new links each week to current press about Gov. Bush.

If you would like to subscribe (it's free!), just go to www.myflorida.com and look for the green box on the lower right side of the screen, labeled "Governor's e-newsletter."

It's a convenient way to keep up with all the great gains being made by Gov. Bush in his on-going work as governor of FL.

[summer]

Bumping for index.

[summer]

See my reply #1. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[Tai_Chung]

Did they teach the test?

The gap between blacks, whites, and hispanic are not as important as the gap between American students and the students from other countries in math and science.

[summer]

I totally disagree with you.

[summer]

I disagree with you -- the gap between black and whites impacts the other gap you are referring to.

[summer]

BTW, tell your comment to this FL principal of a public school in Lee County -- where 50% of the students are Hispanic, and only 40% were passing the state reading test.

Now, 70% are passing -- and these kids do not speak English as a native language. That is a real success story, whether you care to admit it or not.

Bush pushes education agenda in Lee County [Jeb praises students for increased reading scores]

[Tai_Chung]

The percentage of black students failing the state math exam dropped to 37%. If the gap is the real goal, you would be happier if the hispanic and white failure rate increased to 37%.

I'm just saying the focus is wrong. The goal should not be the gap. They should try to get all Americans to do well regardless of the gap. Also, they should not be kidding themselves that the students are doing well when Americans regularly place near the bottom on international science and math.

[summer]

No, the focus is not wrong at all. In order to close the gap between Americans and the internatinal community, you have to do something about the incredible gap now existing between white and minorities. I am shocked you can not grasp the obvious truth in that.

[summer]

"international" is what I meant to type.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[xzins]

I'm convinced that the issue with most students, and especially minority students, is having a positive relationship with a demanding teacher. When this mix is present, it seems that students thrive.

A positive relation is one in which the student believes that the teacher "likes/respects" the student. I've noticed any number of times, that that student then responds with cooperation.

If the teacher isn't demanding, then this cooperation results in nothing. A teacher who is just "liked" for its own sake is merely a windbag.

A demanding teacher, on the other hand, takes this currency of personal relationship and places work on the student. The student, intent on preserving that valuable commodity, a respected person who actually cares for them, responds with more work than they ever have done for anyone else.

Anyone will tell you. Work is the key to success in education. An average IQ "worker" will outperform a high IQ "slouch" over time.

[summer]

I agree with you, but I would add that another crucial component to that equation you described is that the PARENT or GUARDIAN of the student MUST support the teacher. Too often in black schools the parent is AGAINST the teacher simply because the teacher is white. That is the sad fact.

[summer]

And, that message is transmitted to the minority student, who then disrespects the teacher no matter how much the teacher tries. Black parents want black teachers. Too bad there are not more black teachers.

[Tai_Chung]

The Black - White gap dropped from 40% to to 28%
The Black - Hispanic gap dropped from 20% to 15%
The Hispanic - White gap dropped from 20% to 13%

If reducing the gap to zero is the real goal, why not try to make white children do poorly?

This focus on the gap will tend to dumb-down education. They will try to make the test easy as a way to improve the scores of everyone. If you compare the students to those of other countries, there would be no incentive to dumbing-down education.

[Tai_Chung]

I agree that the parent should respect the teacher. This is why home schooling is becoming popular.

[xzins]

I've seen black parents satisfied if there is a "real" presence of minority teachers on the staff...not all of them have to be minority. Traveling around the world with the military, we were ALWAYS in public systems with about 30% black, 30% hispanic that lived around the military bases.

On a staff of 100, most minority parents wanted to see about 10% minority (10% black and 10% hispanic.) If they got that, it was easier for them to believe in fairness.

It's a sad commentary on our era that MOST parents now will take the part of their "poor little child" over that of the teacher if ANY dispute arises. That is not a minority phenomenon. When I was growing up, God help me if the teacher complained to my folks about me. It didn't matter what I said.....I was dead meat!