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]

BTW, if you click on my screen name, you will see a series of editorials I wrote about Gov. Bush and these explain wheat else he is doing in education. One of the many wonderful things he did was to pass a new law providing free professional liability insurance for every teacher in FL. As I learned, being a lifelong Dem and a member of the teacher's union didn't mean squat when I asked the union to help me as a first year teacher facing basless accusations from a black parent who wanted to get rich quick. It shocked me that a GOP governor would be interested in my teaching experiences -- as the teachers union rep was not. Thankfully, other FL teachers now have better protection than was avilable to me at that time.

Also, here is a link to more good news:

New report: Jeb has made GREAT gains, moving FL from 34th up to 4th place in Education Freedom

This is a report written by a Harvard PhD, for the Manhattan Institute on Public Policy Research. Basically, the report hails Jeb's changes in terms of providing more educational choices for parents here in FL, because more freedom of choice is directly related to higher student achievement.

[summer]

wheat = what!

[summer]

Thought you folks would be interested in this! :)

[summer]

I think I missed you on this! :)

[Landru]

"I think I missed you on this!"

You did; but, not to fear.
It didn't miss me.
Given the resources that've been poured into education et al?
Especially as opposed to all other generations prior?
There's no valid excuse whatsoever for the kid's performance other than to be doing anything but going up; grade-wise.
Teachers have never before been better prepared or paid, in many cases from my POV.
Regardless the ethnicity, race or otherwise of the *student(s).
I'm afraid the bottome line's that there's no longer a valid, acceptable excuse to justify poor performance; any more than there exists the luxury of having one at the ready to explain the failures -- like in the past?
Time has simply run out.

...& although pay can always be better than it is; I'm afraid accountability, is the next step.

[davidosborne]

I might be a little oportunistic on this one.. But I feel I must take this oportunity to show how my daughter (homeschooled) and my sisters kids (ALL homeschooled) performed in their own Chistmas play last month...(I don't think this allowed in PUBLIC schools anymore....

My daughter is the one in middle :)

FReegards,

David

[summer]

David, Thanks so much for sharing that wonderful photo! All those girls look just beautiful! :)

[summer]

Time has simply run out.

I agree with you, Professor Landru: time's up. :)

[davidosborne]

Thank you.. hope is wasn't too "off topic"...

FReegards,

David

[davidosborne]

I'm afraid accountability, is the next step.

Accountability YES.. but to whom? Parents YES (in all cases), Government, YES (if parents CHOOSE to have the government educate their kids)

David

[summer]

I thought it was fine. Every parent should be as proud of their kids as you are of yours. Kids know the difference, believe me. :)

[davidosborne]

You caught me, I am guilty of being EXTREMELY proud of my kids.. :)

David

[summer]

Not a mistake at all. :)

[davidosborne]

Children are overwhelmingly addressed as blessings in Scripture, never a curse. This is one area that God clearly assumes responsibility for, from the opening of the womb, to conception, to the intricate weaving together of the child (Ps. 139) to the very taking of the child out of the womb (Ps. 22). If God is so intimately involved in this process, how is it that we become wiser than He to determine for ourselves what children are necessary/desirable and which aren't?

Quote from my Bro-in-Law's website, Father of the other kids in photo..

FReegards,

David

[Landru]

I'm even sorrier to say the question of teacher, "accountability"?
Gets even murkier, more unnecesaarily complex the instant the unions become involved.
And they will be involved as sure as God made little green apples, Mr. Osborne.

In fact?
There're *some* people (moi) who might even say the unions are at least 50% responsible for the situation as it stands, today.
Naturally, the parents have their share of the fecal sandwich.

It's just that, we're talking about an extremely difficult proposition getting rid of an incompetent teacher, you undersatnd.
Actually, make that impossible.

Parental accountability cannot be far off, either.
~That'll really be *fun* too, if you think about it?
Will really get the Constitutionalists, Libertarians & other assorted *experts* worked-up into the kind of lather we really don't need when the state begins making parents tow the line, or else?
Look how they're behaving with the nation's security threatened as it is; just study their behavior(s) now, & behold the template to their position(s) come that day.

You know?
God said, "Go forth & multiple."
But I *think* He really wanted for us to then in-turn provide all we did produce a good, solid upbringing??
Which was apparently -- *somehow* lost in the translation? ;^)

...mind you I do not make it a habit of trying to interpret our Lord Jesus Christ's, Word; buuuuuuuutttt...

[davidosborne]

It is a very interesting situation isn't it.. I think parents are accountable to God for their "parenting" not the Government... IMHO, maybe we should let God enforce His laws, and let the Government stick to its LEGITIMATE FUNCTION..

David

>

[mafree]

Ping! Any news like this is good news.

[Landru]

"I think parents are accountable to God for their 'parenting' not the Government...IMHO"

Yea yea; a real dilemma, huh.

Kids recieve no upbringing & take that barbarianism to school; where the teacher(s) are supposed to *fix* it, eh?
Of course, the kid doesn't learn anything 'cuz they're too preoccupied being the kind of imbecile they've imprinted on from Dumb & Dumber.
So?
We lynch the teacher, eh?

Primarily because (according to you), "the *parents* should be left to the job" nevermind they're neglecting to do *any* of this, "parenting" & doing-so in overwhelmingly numbers?
Hell's Bells, Mr Osborne, that's a *form* of, "neglect." eh?
Yup; it's a classic chicken & egg kind of puzzle, eh?

"...maybe we should let God enforce His laws, and let the Government stick to its LEGITIMATE FUNCTION..."

Maybe we should.
But right off the bat?
That word, "should", will get'cha into an awful lot of trouble, son.
I mean; look what *its* done to an entire nation's generation of young adults, & the politicians they elect to represent 'em.

...why we should be behaving a lot saner than we are.

[davidosborne]

I'm not sure but I think we agree... Am I right? Trying to read in between the lines of sarcasm... :)

FReegards,

David