Gov goes to school catering to migrant families [Thanks, Jeb: "D" school's grade is now an "A"]

AP, via www.jeb.org ^ | May 14, 2002 | Vickie Chachere

[summer]

FL Gov Jeb Bush accepts a grateful hug from a young student
at a FL public school, Wimauma Elementary - where 85% of students are
children of migrant workers, yet: rising student achievement caused the school
to improve its grade from a "D" to an "A" in just two years.

Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Associated Press

Governor's campaign goes to school catering to migrant families

By Vickie Chachere

WIMAUMA, Fla. (AP) _ Gov. Jeb Bush took his run for re-election Tuesday to an elementary school that turned its academic fortunes around despite its transient population of migrant families and children who barely speak English.

At Wimauma Elementary School, Bush chatted with children in Spanish and shared a song with 5-year-olds learning how to read and write. In a poignant moment, the governor asked one fourth grader working on a writing assignment what her story was about _ the girl replied it was about her mother who died in August.

Despite the challenges of a school population where nearly all the 700 children depend on free or reduced lunches and 85 percent are the children of migrant workers with limited English skills, Wimauma Elementary earned an ''A'' in last year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

The school has lower-than-usual student-teacher ratios _ one teacher for every 20 students in kindergarten through third grades, one to 25 for the older students _ and has been given the flexibility to teach classes in English and Spanish.

Bilingual teacher-aides help out those teachers who don't speak Spanish, and about 100 volunteers from nearby Sun City, a retirement community, provide even more help.

The school's principal said the accountability demands set by the Bush administration also helps.

''FCAT [FL test] is the propeller of this school,'' said Principal Carol DeAgazio. ''It gets the school going. We don't want to be on the bottom rung.''

The event came on the second day of Bush's newly intensified campaign. The governor had limited his re-election activities until after lawmakers finished with the state budget during a special session that ended Monday.

Bush said he is pleased with lawmakers' work, which includes a 6 percent per-student increase for Florida's public schools.

''I believe this is a state in its ascension, not in decline,'' Bush said.

Bush's campaign was taking him to Orlando later Tuesday for a town hall meeting with high school students.


Gov. Bush sees things eye-to-eye with FL's Wimauma elementary students.

[CSXT]

Schools are improving and the teacher's unions are running scared. Yesterday it was reported that the Manatee County School Board didn't want Gov. Bush making a "political visit" to the Wimauma school. Wonder what they are afraid of. On top of that Bush is running tv ads featuring support for him from the last four Florida Teachers of the Year.

[Fpimentel]

I think your hatred is misguided. American citizens are
allowing "illegals" to collect welfare and to enter into US schools.
Blacks vote 95% democrat, do you hate all Blacks?

[ijcr]

Gee! what happened to the state constitution. English is the offical language of the State of Florida--Jeb, please do not forget this minor piffling detail when you endorse bi-lingual education.

[Black Agnes]

Um no. There is no 'hatred'. Blacks did not ask to be here. The illegals purposely come here. Big difference. Cuban immigrants have a very very low level of welfare assistance. I have no idea why there is a big difference between the two 'hispanic' groups which is why I generally don't refer to the problem of immigrant welfare dependence as a 'hispanic' one, it is however, a Mexican one. No society can simultaneously have an open border and a welfare state. Unless you are willing to lower your standard of living to that of north Mexico this catering to illegal non citizens must stop! Mexico has some VERY draconian rules regarding ITS southern border, but expects us to completely open ours! Mexico in this respect is hugely hypocritical!

[Dixie Mom]

there have been some other news articles about this school, located in Hillsborough County, FL, and I know one of those articles mentioned the turnaround from a "D" grade to an "A" happened in two years. If you happen to come across that, please do post it on this thread.

Here's what I found:

Gov. Bush Visits High-Scoring Students
Liz Bleau
Published: May 16, 2002

WIMAUMA - Gov. Jeb Bush congratulated teachers and students at Wimauma Elementary School for continuing to work to improve FCAT writing scores during a tour of the school Tuesday.

In 1999-2000, Wimauma saw the largest increase in Hillsborough County in its writing scores, from 2.8 to 3.8. Bush stopped at the school Tuesday during a campaign swing through the area.

School Principal Carol DeAgazio took Bush on a tour of classrooms where Bush stopped to talk to students, several times in Spanish. The school has a large number of Hispanic students.

In the writing class of Marcia Hepburn, Bush met Chantel Stephens, 11, who told Bush she was writing a story about her mother who died when she was a baby. ``I'm sorry to hear that,'' the governor said. ``Can I give you a hug?'' She agreed.

In the fifth-grade classroom of Esther Matute, he met school volunteer Marjorie Laird, 75, of Sun City Center who spends a day a week at the school. A former schoolteacher, Laird has been volunteering at the school for about 10 years.

--------------------------------

and from an older article (Test results celebrated, By MELANIE AVE © St. Petersburg Times, published May 31, 2001):

Squeals of joy could be heard blaring through the halls and classrooms of Wimauma Elementary School, in southern Hillsborough County.

The school, filled with students whose parents are Spanish-speaking migrant farm workers, earned an A after receiving a C last year and a D the year before.

Wimauma principal Carol DeAgazio said resource teachers have worked diligently to boost students' skills in reading, writing and math, overcoming the language, cultural and economic barriers the children face.

"The staff worked so hard," she said. "The children worked incredibly hard. We have been prepared and prepared. I was shaking when I heard the news."

[floriduh voter]

The St. Pete Times today had a great article about Jeb entitled "School Visit Brings out the Kid in Gov. Bush". In case I don't have time to post it, it's worth a peek at St. Petersburg Times on line. I bet they have this story on line.

I am still of the belief that this liberal newspaper going back to its earliest days, is sticking up for Jeb for the most part and doing puff pieces on him.

They must have inside polling data and they want to stick with the winner, the Honorable Jeb Bush. And an honorable BTTT!

[summer]

Re your post #19 -- ...don't think they will in FL either, summer..., unless you plan on *buying* their votes

Well, I am not in the "vote-buying" business, so, I don't see myself buying any votes. Plus, I am not running for any office! :)

But, Black Agnes, I notice from your public profile page you appear to be in Costa Rica. I would just tell you that here in FL, education has consistently been ranked, by FL voters, as their #1 issue of concern. So, the following really is big news: all the many changes Gov. Bush has implemented here in this state's education system.

On a somewhat related note, I believe Gov Bush tries very hard to reach out to different people all the time. Consequently, who knows how people will vote? Remember, he already holds the record for winning the highest percentage of the black vote in this state for a GOP governor (he won 14% in 1998).

Gov Bush may just surprise you this November, and win even higher percentages from groups considered traditional Dems.


Gov. Jeb Bush meets informally with local
Puerto Rican leaders at an Orlando restauarant.

[summer]

Do your schools question whether the kids are legal or not? Schools in my neighborhood are *prevented by law* from determining whether or not the kids are legal!

Is your neighborhood in Costa Rica? (as per your profile page?)

[Black Agnes]

Actually, Costa Rica is my vacation destination. I live in NJ. In a community full of illegal immigrants. If INS did a thorough sweep of this community there would be tumbleweeds rolling through the streets and cob webs on the door facings!. If as you predict, a lot of 'traditional dems' vote for Jeb, what does that tell you about Jeb? (he's a dem in pubbie clothes!) As per your picture, why is he meeting with Puerto Rican leaders? Is he running for governor of Puerto Rico too? Does he meet with Georgia leaders or South Carolina leaders as well?

[summer]

Re your post #25 - Fantastic post there, Dixie Mom! Thank you VERY much!!!!!!!! :)

[summer]

If as you predict, a lot of 'traditional dems' vote for Jeb, what does that tell you about Jeb? (he's a dem in pubbie clothes!) As per your picture, why is he meeting with Puerto Rican leaders? Is he running for governor of Puerto Rico too? Does he meet with Georgia leaders or South Carolina leaders as well?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry, as I am not laughing at you, but at what you wrote above)

OK, I am done laughing. And -- You're right, Black Angus. Only people whose ancestors are BORN here in FL, and who NEVER cast a vote for Dem, should now be allowed to cast a vote for Jeb Bush. How dare Gov Bush talk to anyone else in this state EVER!!!!!!!! :)

[Fpimentel]

Where did this come from, last I check every Black person
alive today is a US Citizen and free to live where ever they choose.
"Blacks did not ask to be here."

Do you have statistics that back this up? I have been searching for statistics,
but I was only able to find statistics for 1992 which listed
"whites" as the number one recipient of welfare.
"Cuban immigrants have a very very low level of welfare assistance."

US citizens that vote for open borders and welfare assistance to "illegals" are the problem.

[summer]

PS And, in fact, he has met several times with the Dem gov of Georgia, Roy Barnes, to discuss education issues. I'll post a photo of someone else Gov Bush has met with, and this will probably make you faint! :)

[summer]

Black Agnes, what's Gov Bush doing meeting with this guy below, as he's not even a FL voter!!!!!!!!!


Israel's Moshe Arens and FL Gov Jeb Bush.

[Black Agnes]

As a percentage of total population, yes, whites receive more welfare. As a percentage of the total per 'race' (I still dispute the designation of 'hispanic' as a race btw, there are many origins and ethnicities of 'hispanics' and to lump them all together is just not a good idea or even realistic, BUT it has been *very* politically expedient! for those who would divide us for political gain) this is not the case. I will try to find the statistics. I read the ones regarding Cubans during the whole Elian fiasco. As for the 'Blacks didn't ask to be here'...yes, most Black people are descended from people who were brought here against their will. Illegal immigrants come here of their own accord. I do not however, recall voting for an open border, or welfare benefits for illegals. In this case, our 'political elites' are like those in Europe in which the views of the ordinary citizens are ignored in favor of those of the elites (either left or right, both equally guilty IMHO) who seek to use these poor people to further their own ends. Mexico would be better off having 'la revolution' and solving some of their 'oligarchy' problems. Mexico has a temperate climate and many natural resources. There is no reason (other than political corruption) why Mexico shouldn't be at least as economically viable as Canada. Fox wants the illegals to come here to solve his own political problems. If we allow this to happen we are no better than 'enablers' allowing Mexico to avoid solving its *real* problems. Instead, we will make our own problems worse. We already have a difficult time providing decent education for our own poor children. I don't see how we can provide anything approaching equal education for all the kids in north Mexico who can be smuggled across the border or whose parents have them while they're here! Fox is essentially selling his citizens into indentured servitude here! Easier for him than working to end the corruption and oligarchical issues in Mexico that prevent it becoming a player on the world's economic stage!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I still dispute the designation of 'hispanic' as a race..."

You are absolutely correct in disputing that BA, it's not a race, it's an ethnicity.

If "Hispanic" was in fact a "race", what would you call a black Cuban?

[jimt]

No society can simultaneously have an open border and a welfare state.

Bingo !!! That bears repeating !!!

No society can simultaneously have an open border and a welfare state.

At least not one that can survive.

[Black Agnes]

What would I call a Black Cuban? From what I've heard, not part of Castro's regime. Would that be correct? (I've heard that for all his rhetoric about how racist the US is, that his own regime is quite the 'color' regimented one). I guess my main gripe is that people assume since 'Hispanics' all speak Spanish that they're all 'uni-ethnic'. IMHO, Brazilians and Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are VERY different groups, and even their 'Spanish' isn't congruent. This would be akin to likening Italians and Greeks just because they're Meditarranean in origin. There are many dialects of Spanish. I wonder how long before (If?) there is enough of a linguistic separation between the island nations, and the central and south american nations versions of 'Spanish' that they're considered different? I've also heard (from Puerto Ricans and Cubans) that 'Columbian Spanish' is the 'best' or most rigorously 'correct' of all the new world dialects.

[summer]

Re your post #26 - Thanks for mentioning that article! It's about a different school, but what a great read! I linked it below.


School Brings Out the Kid in Gov Bush

[Black Agnes]

Hehe! Did the great unwashed left protest poor Jeb after that meeting? Don't misunderstand my criticisms, I genuinely like the guy. My dispute is with the winning at all costs even if it means selling out conservative principles. The traditional Dems that will vote for Jeb will never be conservative, even a little bit. When the liberal big spending programs fail to achieve their desired goals, conservatives will be the 'losers' and the public will link them to these failures.