The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 11: How Jeb's Newest, 3rd Voucher Program Helps Low-Income Students

FAQS from www.floridachild.org ^ | Feb. 28, 2002 | summer

[summer]

BTW, as you probably know, Gov. Jeb Bush is recognized nationwide as a strong supporter of school choice.

In addition to co-writing Profiles in Courage, a book about the extraordinary deeds of ordinary FL citizens, Gov. Jeb Bush is the one who wrote the foreword to this highly acclaimed book:


School Choice,
foreword by Jeb Bush.

Both books can be found on the amazon.com page here, if this link works! :) Also, to see a list of Gov. Bush's accomplishments in education during his first term as governor, click here.

Finally, as I've mentioned before, with Janet Reno currently driving around in her truck, now may be the perfect time to get your free "JEB!" bumper-sticker -- by clicking HERE!

PS And, from the Orlando Sentinel: Parents see brighter futures with new school-voucher law.

[summer]

Bumping for index.

And, another attempt at the amazon.com link here! :)

[summer]

Bumping for index.

And, another attempt at the amazon.com link here! :)

[summer]

Note to self: Stop hitting the post function twice!!

[First_Salute]

We should have implemented the vouchers --- but by states, not by the federal government --- years ago instead of that idiotic forced bussing.

[summer]

Thanks so much for your post, and for pinging people! I think Gov. Bush is assured re-election, in part because he is doing what the vast majority of people in this state want him to do: trying his best to improve all public schools, while also providing option after option after option. Good for him, for complying with this state's constitution.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

Meant to include you in that ping above. (And, I meant a lot of other people I still have to look up!) :)

[summer]

BTW, I actually do know that "chagrin" is NOT spelled: chargrin! :)

[Dog Gone]

Kids trapped in poor public schools deserve better than the answers they gave you and Cheri.

One party doesn't want to do anything about it, because it would upset the education bureaucracy.

This is an interesting voucher program. We need each state to experiment with variations. That's the beauty of having states, and why education shouldn't be directed out of Washington.

But somebody needs to make it happen, and Jeb is doing just that.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Nice job summer, I too had difficulty finding challenging material for "gifted" students. But they did come back and took additional classes from me so I know I was "OK" in their book. One time I thought I had a student who independently figured out a type of integral calculus. This was the one and only time I researched a student's folder. (I was looking for signs of genius from other teachers.) What I found was many instances where her parents had aparently pushed her to excell. She graduated with honors and I lost track, but it was interesting.

This is the first time I realized you taught in an inner city school. (My school was mixed one third each of inner city poor, middle class and wealthy beyond belief.) It is a very tough job to work under those frustrations. My hat is off to you. (Actually, I don't wear hats anymore) FRegards, KC

[kinganamort]

pingggggggggggggggggg

[shaggy eel]

,,, thanx for the BUMP Summer. At my end of the globe there are similar problems. Try this link --->

the Kiwi situation

[kinganamort]

summer, this article is awesome!

[summer]

Thanks, kinganamort; glad you liked it! :)

[summer]

Hi shaggy eel, Thanks for checking out my article! I tried your link but couldn't bring it up on this computer. See if you can post it again if it's not working on your computer either. :)

[mafree]

Thanks for the ping summer- GO JEB!!

[summer]

KC, Thank you so much for your thoughtful post #11. I appreciate your understanding this situation, and thank you for sharing your experience as well.

In a way, I felt like a failure for not being able to do more for Cheri -- because while a teacher can change lessons, and provide different materials, and there are images of those teachers who taught 10 different grade levels in one room school houses, I honestly felt the bottom line for Cheri and kids like her is that they deserve to be around PEERS who are ALSO reading at or above grade level. Because much learning does take place from peers, and this is where the schools really fail Cheri and those like her. I can't wave my magic wand and make everyone in that class suddenly mature to the point she is at, and everyone knows "Cheri is the smartest" but at some point, Cheri should have the experience of being with peers who challenge her in addition to a teacher who tried to do so.

It was very hard for me to write this editorial, because I'm certain someone may read it and conclude: "Big deal, lots of kids are on different levels -- and it's the teacher's responsibility to teach them all."

Well, yes, I would like to say, that's true -- but Cheri deserved MUCH more intellectual stimulation FAR more often than I could provide in that situation with a class that low in reading -- and getting her out was really the only way to help HER progress.

BTW, I hate that public schools are so against tracking. Because if public schools are going to shortchange kids like Cheri in terms of gifted programs, the very least they could do is put all of them together in some public school nearby, so these kids have a chance to discover there ARE other kids like them, planning their futures, reading the books they are reading. But, public schools don't bother at all. So, I have to say: Good for Gov. Bush for taking the time to care about these kids.

That is my honest assessment, even though I know some will disagree.

[summer]

Thanks, mafree! :)!

[summer]

I meant to type: your understanding of this situation...