'The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows' -- Part 16: A young FL homeschooler's interview with FL's Fabulous Gov

The St Petersburg Times ^ | May 20, 2002 | Intro by summer; Interview by Autumn Siegel

[summer]

Note to FR:

I was so moved by reading "My Adventure in Miami with President Bush" -- the recent essay written by Andrew, FR's own 15 year-old writer who posts as "walrus954" -- that I was inspired to turn over my space here to another talented young writer.

Consequently, Andrew, and everyone else, please say hello to: Autumn Siegel, a FL homeschooler who recently interviewed Gov. Bush.

I hope you all enjoy this interview, below. (I know I did!)

Sincerely,

summer :) -- a former Dem, now an independent and a FL certified teacher


FL homeschool student and budding journalist, Autumn Siegel, left, along
with a FL newspaper staff member, at a journalism conference --
as explained HERE.

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Monday, May 20, 2002
St. Petersburg Times



An online interview with Governor Bush

By Autumn Siegel

As a homeschooled student enrolled in the Florida Virtual School, the online high school that has served students across the state for the past four years, I got the chance to interview Gov. Jeb Bush online for the Virtual School's newspaper, News in a Click. (Darn it, no photo op when you interview by computer!)

We talked about lots of issues that affect young people in Florida, from education to teenage smoking to politics. Here is an edited version of our conversation:

AUTUMN: Growing up in a political family, when did you decide that this would be the area that you would go into? What other fields had you considered?

GOV. BUSH: I first got involved in politics to help my dad, whom I truly love. I overcame my fears of speaking in public and began to understand the joys of service by watching my dad in his public service. In 1993 I decided to make the leap. I had been in the private sector until then.

AUTUMN: Has it been difficult to maintain your own identity instead of just being one of "the Bush boys?"

GOV. BUSH: I stopped worrying about what people think a while back and now focus on how I can serve and help others.

AUTUMN: Integrity is an important quality for all of humanity, but especially those who have achieved celebrity status as political figures. What suggestions do you have for the next generation of voters who are exposed to negative campaigning and apparent lack of morality on the part of some elected officials?

GOV. BUSH: Say what you are going to do and do what you said you would do. Don't veer from principle. Be honest with yourself. Show humility. Fight hard but fight fair.

AUTUMN: What do you think of such government-based shows as NBC's The West Wing? Do you feel that these give an accurate portrayal of political life?

GOV. BUSH: I don't watch The West Wing.

AUTUMN: The SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) program, which was founded under the Chiles administration, received a considerable budget cut in October, with a large portion of that money being redistributed to enhance road development. Do you think that it will be important to restore the funds for this program?

GOV. BUSH: The tobacco program is doing fine. We are spending $39-million. That was what was being spent last year. That is a lot of dough!

AUTUMN: If funding is not able to be replaced, what are some of the initiatives that can be taken to continue efforts to decrease youth smoking?

GOV. BUSH: Teen smoking is down in our state, which is a good thing.

AUTUMN: There has been a considerable amount of media coverage on the recent cell-phone controversy facing school districts across America. Some believe that students should be allowed to keep these devices on campus as long as they are not turned on; others protest that the phones are too much of a distraction. Where do you stand and why?

GOV. BUSH: I have not followed the issue, but now I will!

AUTUMN: Due to increased security after Sept. 11, do you think that there has been a decrease in youth involvement in the government, such as the TeenPact program for Christian homeschoolers, or the Senate page program?

GOV. BUSH: I have not noticed a decline in youth involvement. In fact, I think there has been more civic involvement than before that I hope can be sustained.

AUTUMN: Why do you think it is important to support the Florida Virtual School?

GOV. BUSH: It has the potential of helping to redefine education. It is student-centered and can be used in so many ways . . . remediation, honors-AP (advanced placement) classes for students who can't access them, etc.

AUTUMN: Do you think online learning would have been beneficial when you were growing up, or perhaps would have benefited your children?

GOV. BUSH: Gosh, I am so old I can remember black-and-white televisions! Online learning would have been very useful to me.

AUTUMN: Do you think the Virtual School will be able to issue diplomas to its students in the near future?

GOV. BUSH: I hope so.

AUTUMN: Many critics argue that Florida Virtual School is not an effective educational medium because of the lack of interaction among students and faculty. However, AP scores among Virtual School students exceed the national average by nearly 9 percent. What is your comment about this apparent contradiction?

GOV. BUSH: The Virtual School is not for everyone. But it is a good means to accelerate learning for kids who don't need as much attention.

AUTUMN: I am sure that you are aware of the teacher shortage facing Florida. What would you say to high schoolers or college students to encourage them to pursue a career in education?

GOV. BUSH: The laws of supply and demand apply to the teaching profession. There will be great opportunities in teaching in the next decade. Teaching is a very noble profession.

AUTUMN: What factors influenced your decision to attend the college that you did?

GOV. BUSH: I went to high school in the northeast U.S. and wanted to go back home, so I attended the University of Texas.

AUTUMN: What is something that you now know that you wish you would have known while in school?

GOV. BUSH: I know now not to be in quite the rush I was in back then. I graduated in 21/2 years.

AUTUMN: Your mother seems to be a pretty amazing woman. What is the most important piece of advice that she gave you, and have you shared this with your own children?

GOV. BUSH: Love my wife and children more than life itself. That is easy to do.

AUTUMN: What advice would you give to the siblings of particularly high achievers?

GOV. BUSH: Work hard.

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FL's hard working governor, Jeb Bush, online in the
interview above -- and working at Orlando's Dr. Phillips High School,
where he answered questions from Florida students.

[A CA Guy]

Nice to see.

Whereas Reno is probably BBQing this weekend in Waco!

[Jonathon Spectre]

To the top with you!

[Cultural Jihad]

A BTTT for Americans.

[TatieBug]

You always do a fantastic job of getting the positive word out...that's so neat. O'Reilly has really been on Jeb lately and I think the blame goes on the case worker but what a horrible story. I hope they find that little girl and go after her parents...they shouldn't be allowed to have children in their conditions.

[Lancey Howard]

Bump for great freeping.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

bumping for a pal

[patriciaruth]

It is just mind-blowing to me the difference between Gov. Bush, who tries so hard to be there for the people,

Such a quality family. They have been raised with such high standards. I am so glad they are examples for our youth now.

[skr]

A Bush bump--good answers, Governor.

[JoeSixPack1]

GOV. BUSH: "Gosh, I am so old I can remember black-and-white televisions! ............."

I guess to a 12 year old, that's old!! :-)

Ancient Geezer JEB BUMP!! ROFL

[JimSEA]

Good one!!! Bump.

[davidosborne]

Mega bumps for the future leaders of America !!...

David

[ArneFufkin]

Summer, the questions asked by the young lady to the Governor were more incisive and thoughtful than the totality of those I've seen flung at Ari Fleisher by the so-called pros in the WH corps over the last four weeks.

Jeb Bush's actions during that Florida recount circus were a remarkable display of honor, duty and unselfishness. His immediate recusal from involvement in any part of the contested legal process, his grace throughout the onslaught of slimy innuendos and partisan lies, his respect for the prerogatives of his officers both Pubbie and Rat (the AG who wimped out of defending the State against the despots in the Florida Supreme Court), and his measured steps to repair the damage left after the a-hole Gore lawyers and operatives left the state and went back to their dungeons - he's proven to me that he's a damn good man of integrity and duty. Like big bro. Both Bush's conducted themselves with spectacular maturity and wisdom during that mess. He's going to blitzkrieg Reno ... in fact, I predict she'll withdraw from the race citing medical reasons.

[pt17]

A summer, Jeb, young journalist bump!

[sistergoldenhair]

Nice to hear from you.
Have an early morning bump.

[ArneFufkin]

O'Reilly has really been on Jeb lately and I think the blame goes on the case worker but what a horrible story.

Bill O'Reilly thinks that all publicly elected officials, well more accurately everyone everywhere, are immediately answerable to his beckoning summons'. Governor Bush is conducting a careful investigation - this is a criminal matter. It involves civil service unionists. He's not going to go on The Factor and apologize on behalf of the State for individuals who lied to judges and supervisors. Where are the other family members of this little girl who had a responsibility to love, protect and care about her welfare? O'Reilly isn't warranted a response. He's nothing but a blowhard at this point.

There is no doubt in my mind, that because the United Way and Red Cross discarded their careful victim verification processes in the wake of O'Reilly's crass bullying and irresponsible sliming, millions of dollars of donated aid intended for the real victims' families and funding relief efforts were stolen by frauds and embezzlers.

NOBODY who donated $50 to the Red Cross or United Way imagined that his/her donation would bolster a several hundred-million dollar fund that would provide a mind-dizzying death benefit for the 2300 families or so victimized by the attack. I didn't give my $100 to the Red Cross so that the surviving families would receive multiple millions each. After such an overwhelming response, I expect and support the Red Cross using some of the funds to bolster local operations; to compensate staff who worked themselves to exhaustion after the attack; and if deemed prudent, to invest in computer resources that will improve information, response and service to our communities. Did anyone intend that the families of those killed would be paid $5 -$10 million each (or whatever)? I didn't. I always wanted to ask O'Reilly ... didn't any of these people he trotted out night after night ("has anyone from the Red Cross or United Way contacted you?") ... did none of these victims have a life insurance policy to protect their family? What was the big rush to get this unbelievable pool of money quickly into survivors hands? I expected the UW and Red Cross to carefully qualify legitimate recipient families and individuals. That's their fiduciary duty to those who contributed in good faith and compassion.

He's an ass.

[Brownie74]

Thanks for the ping summer and a big homeschool....

[E.G.C.]

Bump for David

[E.G.C.]

And for summer.

[xsmommy]

bump for your thread, summer. Thanks for pinging me, kudos to Autumn!

[ArneFufkin]

Whoa, my math was off big time in my description of potential death benefits up in 75. If, as O'Reilly demanded, the entirety of all funds collected for victim relief went directly to victims' families - that's over $1 billion divied up among 2500 families or so. $400,000 a family. Somewhat less than the $5 million I stated above (million moron math). It's still too much to distribute without checking death certificates, veracity of stories, etc.