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Education Makes the Difference [A published essay by Jeb Bush, Feb. 2002]
Daytona Beach News Journal, via www.myflorida.com ^ | Feb. 10, 2002 | Jeb Bush

Posted on 02/13/2002 7:21:14 PM PST by summer


Gov. Jeb Bush: Looking toward that future, I believe that while
decades ago the struggle was for access to education, today our challenge
as Floridians is to ensure access to a quality education.
That means setting high standards for every school and
every student in our state, and never letting race or socioeconomic
status be an excuse to give up on a child or to employ the 'soft bigotry of low expectations.'




The Daytona Beach News-Journal
February 10, 2002

Note from Daytona Beach News-Journals editors:

As part of this year's celebration of Black History Month, Gov. Jeb Bush held an essay contest which asked Florida students to answer the question, "What impact has black history had on my life?" Three winners were announced last week and excerpts from their essays appear on this page.

In a column that appeared on the editorial page of the News-Journal, Bush was challenged to answer the same question. Here is his reply:


Education Makes the Difference

Florida Voices

By: Governor Jeb Bush


Of all the facets of the African-American experience we celebrate during Black History Month, one of the most important to me is how critical a quality education has been to the growth and opportunities of African-Americans, particularly here in Florida.

Prior to the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, generations of African-American children were punished for attempting to read or trying to better themselves through education. For them, liberation meant in practical terms the freedom to learn. That principle -- education is liberation -- is still true today.

Black History Month also reminds me that communities and churches have been instrumental in fostering educational excellence. Many of the first schools for African-Americans in our state were churches, and the Bible was the first book many children learned how to read. Four of those original church/schoolhouses still exist here in Tallahassee, including those affiliated with Concord AME and New Zion Baptist Church. I feel we should also be proud of Florida's leadership in higher education for African-Americans. Of the 120 historically black colleges and universities, four are in Florida: Bethune-Cookman, Edward Waters, Florida Memorial and Florida A&M University. Community support, including support from faith-based institutions, remains essential today at all levels of education.

Some of Black History's most triumphant moments, of course, occurred during the Civil Rights Movement and were about securing access to education. From the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954 to the Little Rock Nine, the right of black children to attend school was central in the struggle for civil rights.

Florida had its own share of struggles which helped to ensure access. Forty-two years ago this month, the first lunch-counter sit-in occurred in Tallahassee. That led to the integration of lunch counters, movie theaters and beaches in that city.

We must also continue to honor those African American Floridians who are such a big part of our state history, including Jonathan C. Gibbs, James Weldon Johnson and Mary McLeod Bethune.

On a personal level, I try to keep in mind always that black history is being written as we speak. As governor, I meet and work with so many African-Americans who are passionate about our future as Floridians. It is an incredible privilege to live in a state with so much ethnic diversity and where people of so many different backgrounds can share in a vision of a common future.

Looking toward that future, I believe that while decades ago the struggle was for access to education, today our challenge as Floridians is to ensure access to a quality education. That means setting high standards for every school and every student in our state, and never letting race or socioeconomic status be an excuse to give up on a child or to employ the "soft bigotry of low expectations."

I hope the study of black history encourages every Florida student to hold themselves to high standards. Together, we can work towards making the dreams of generations of African-American heroes become a reality today.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: educationnews; florida; jebbush
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To: Frumious Bandersnatch
Frumious Bandersnatch - you are right that there was not an "official" policy of keeping blacks ignorant. However if you follow the link below it states that only 10% of the slaves were literate . . . now it is that 10% literacy rate is what Jeb Bush was addressing.

Literacy Revisited: http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=22tl.h21

. . . The popular conception, even among historians, is that literacy rates in the Southern states were generally very low. Actually, some 80 percent of whites and free blacks, as well as 10 percent or more of slaves, could read, said Beth Barton Schweiger, a professor of history at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

"It is counterintuitive," particularly when you consider the lack of formal schooling throughout many parts of the South, Ms. Schweiger said. "The literacy rates were rather high, especially among slaves, especially since society was doing all it could to prevent slaves from becoming literate." . . .

FRegards . . .

 

21 posted on 02/14/2002 9:00:27 AM PST by gatorman
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To: Frumious Bandersnatch
Re your post #18 -- I think you are really wrong here.

From The Bible and Slavery:

"Although [slaves were] generally prohibited from learning to read and write, and in some states prohibited by law from reading the Bible, slaves heard and interpreted the Scriptures in an immediate, historical and spiritual sense. "

So, I guess Gov. Bush knows more than you think he knows.
22 posted on 02/14/2002 9:06:29 AM PST by summer
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To: gatorman
gatorman, in your post I think you make a point the other poster is ignoring:

"..society was doing all it could to prevent slaves from becoming literate." . . .
23 posted on 02/14/2002 9:08:02 AM PST by summer
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To: mafree
Thanks, mafree! :)
24 posted on 02/14/2002 9:15:45 AM PST by summer
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To: gatorman
Oh, I'll grant you that. Its just that the particular paragraph I mentioned implied that no blacks, slave or free were allowed an education or better themselves.  That's what got my goat.
25 posted on 02/14/2002 10:41:03 AM PST by Frumious Bandersnatch
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To: summer
Not so.  The article makes no differentiation between free and slave (although you do make that distinction).  There were slaves who could read and write (Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were notable amongst slave holders for encouraging education within the slave community).  I'm not saying that it was a high figure, because it wasn't.  It has been stated here in this thread that the number was around 10% and I see no reason to dispute that figure.

The problem I had was that the paragraph I quoted was misleading and far too broad in the brush strokes it painted.  At the worse, only slaves were affected, which meant that many many free blacks were not.
26 posted on 02/14/2002 10:45:56 AM PST by Frumious Bandersnatch
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To: summer
I'm not ignoring that fact at all.  However, Reread the paragraph I'm talking about.  It is implying all blacks whether they are free or not.  Also, you ignore gatorman's post indicating that a surprisingly high percentage of slaves were literate.
27 posted on 02/14/2002 10:50:24 AM PST by Frumious Bandersnatch
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To: Frumious Bandersnatch
Gov. Bush is right. Generations were punished for attempting to learn to read and write. He doesn't say all, but it was very common and well documented that white people in towns across the south didn't want blacks educated. Heck, the men often didn't want their women educated and getting above their station.
28 posted on 02/14/2002 3:41:36 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: summer
Hi, summer. I hope that Jeb talks to the students about our fabulous first president next week. Happy early birthday, George Washington -who not only educated his slaves, but gave them their own property to manage, taught them trades, did all he could to give them a fighting chance to survive with their families intact and free upon his wife's death.

Oh, and there was his incredible character, courage in battle, humility and faith. (^:

29 posted on 02/14/2002 3:46:44 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: summer
This is great. Thanks.
30 posted on 02/14/2002 9:53:39 PM PST by dalebert
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To: Frumious Bandersnatch
RE your post #27 - no, I did acknowledge gatorman's post. See my post #23. Also, I think your use of the word "moron" to describe the level of Gov. Bush's intelligence is a bit off-base, to say the least.
31 posted on 02/15/2002 10:58:52 AM PST by summer
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To: dalebert
dalebert, Glad you enjoyed this essay. And, thanks so much for the bump. I really appreciate it :)
32 posted on 02/15/2002 10:59:41 AM PST by summer
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Hi, summer. I hope that Jeb talks to the students about our fabulous first president next week. Happy early birthday, George Washington -who not only educated his slaves, but gave them their own property to manage, taught them trades, did all he could to give them a fighting chance to survive with their families intact and free upon his wife's death.

Oh, and there was his incredible character, courage in battle, humility and faith. (^:


BTTT to your thoughts above.

Thanks for your posts on this thread, RC. Great, informative posts, as usual! :)
33 posted on 02/15/2002 11:00:58 AM PST by summer
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To: summer
Glad to be a teeny part in your worthy campaign, summer. A fine job you're doing here. (^:
34 posted on 02/15/2002 1:48:51 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
RC, you and others ARE the campaign! I am merely facilitating. But, thank you. :)
35 posted on 02/15/2002 1:54:37 PM PST by summer
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To: summer
bump
36 posted on 02/16/2002 11:21:00 AM PST by kinganamort
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To: kinganamort
Thanks, kinganamort. :)
37 posted on 02/16/2002 12:00:35 PM PST by summer
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To: summer
I have been challenged recently that Jeb wasn't a real teacher. What's up with that? It was my belief that he taught at a university English/Spanish. The libs don't like to hear that Jeb was a teacher. Do you have any details? Glad that you found this essay. I see it was printed in Daytona. I have a feeling that Jeb will be at the Daytona 500 tomorrow since his family knows the Earnhardt family and I'm sure they will be honoring Dale Earnhardt tomorrow since it's the anniversary of his life ending crash.
38 posted on 02/16/2002 5:47:26 PM PST by floriduh voter
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To: floriduh voter
Tell them to read the official bio on the state web site of FL First lady Columba Bush, as she clearly states she met Gov. Bush while "he was teaching" (and I think he was teaching English, BTW, to people who did not speak English) on an exchange program with his school. Here is the link with that text about him teaching, from her bio:

Official Bio of FL First Lady Columba Bush [Jeb was teaching when they met]
39 posted on 02/17/2002 3:16:09 AM PST by summer
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To: floriduh voter
LOL....and, I am sure you are right about that -- they hate hearing he ever taught anything! :)
40 posted on 02/17/2002 3:16:46 AM PST by summer
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