FL newspapers finding it tougher to criticize Jeb on education

Orlando Sentinel; Miami Herald; St. Petersburg Times | June 18, 2002 | summer and others

[summer]

FL's Education Governor: Jeb Bush.

FL newspapers finding it tougher to criticize Jeb on education

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

Change in FL often seems to happen this way: Gov. Jeb Bush announces some major new plan.

Shortly thereafter, his political opponents claim the entire state will immediately collapse if such plan becomes law; his plan does become law; the state does not collapse; and howls of protest follow.

Eventually - slowly but surely -- you start to hear positive aspects of his plan promoted by the very ones who previously slammed it.

Such is the point we're at now with Gov. Bush's "A+ Plan for Education."

Below we see a recent column by an Orlando Sentinel columnist who previously screamed in a headline that Gov. Bush deserved an "F" for education reforms - but, now, this same columnist claims the only change needed is teachers should be earning a higher salary. Gone is the hysteria from the tone of one Mike Thomas.

From Miami, where there were several "F" schools this year, the Miami Herald editors have concluded several lessons need to be learned, including this novel thought: maybe parents should be more involved in education -- as Gov. Bush, all by himself, can not do it all. Brilliant thinking from the Miami Herald, folks.

And, from the St. Petersburg Times, where the editorial board would love to compare and publicize Dem gov candidates' educational plans, the editors are stuck. Only one of three Dem candidates has even bothered putting forth an educational plan, so the newspaper finds itself discussing Gov. Bush's plan and its merits. Well, maybe that's why 62% of the voters in this state recently gave Gov. Bush a favorable job approval rating, because if it's leadership you want, you first need: a leader.

With less than 90 days to go until the FL Dem Primary, it looks like Dem voters intend to nominate Janet Reno -- who has not bothered to introduce any new ideas into the educational debate. Yes, she's able to find time for Martin Sheen and Jay Leno, but FL's students do not rank as high on her agenda. Sorry, kids.

Consequently, take a look at some of the positive comments about Gov. Bush and his "A+ Plan" that FL newspapers have reluctantly slipped into their latest editions….

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Below, from Mike Thomas: "In fact,
as much as he appears to be the Great White Republican Governor,
Bush's education program primarily benefits poor minorities.

(1) ORLANDO SENTINEL COLUMNIST: Mike Thomas

Want better schools? Try better salaries

Published June 13, 2002

Orange County has 11 failing schools. And do you know the most interesting thing about that?

Schools officials had to stand in front of the cameras and publicly squirm while coming up with excuses for why poor, minority children in their charge are flunking.

Say what you will about Jeb Bush's accountability program, but this is the first time that administrators and principals have felt real heat for not teaching poor students.

It used to be the kids simply were socially promoted on their merry way to a lifetime of poverty. Nobody cared because nobody had a stake in them.

Now Bush has fixed that problem.

In fact, as much as he appears to be the Great White Republican Governor, Bush's education program primarily benefits poor minorities.

His reforms aren't needed in schools in affluent neighborhoods. They already have oversight from parents who hold both their kids and the schools accountable.

But the inner-city schools lack that involvement. And until now, they lacked accountability from administrators, who were quick to blame failure on poverty, language barriers and negligent parenting.

When there are no consequences for failing, it is easy to make excuses.

Now there are consequences. There are scarlet letter F's. There are school vouchers. There are demands for an explanation.

Five years ago, Wednesday's news conference by Orange officials would have been about how many good schools got A's. Now, the big news is how many bad schools got F's.

Bush has changed the dialogue in Florida, a remarkable achievement. But the great flaw in his policy is the same flaw found in the education bureaucracy. It is the reliance on inflexible ideology to dictate policy.

The bureaucracy's ideology is that you don't hold schools accountable; the solution is to pay teachers more, provide them with better classrooms and give them fewer students.

The Bush ideology blames bad teaching and bad administration for bad schools; the solution is not to feed them money but force them to improve with what they have.

The correct answer, of course, is both. Bush's reforms have done much to force school districts to focus on at-risk kids. Poverty no longer is accepted as an insurmountable brick wall but as an obstacle to overcome.

But overcoming obstacles is expensive. These kids need more resources than kids raised with bookshelves and computers in their rooms.

Studies show they benefit most from smaller classes. They need good teachers and access to them. They need pre-K with certified teachers to give them the basics in word and number recognition. Without that, they spend their school careers in a hopeless game of catch-up.

If you want good teachers to stay at schools like Mollie E. Ray Elementary, which has an annual 34 percent turnover rate, you have to pay bonuses so they don't flee to Dommerich Elementary for easier work at the same pay.

Republicans understand you attract top people in the private industry with a good salary. But somehow, they don't apply the same logic to the public sector. The kind of smart, motivated people Bush wants in teaching jobs don't flock to careers that start out at under $30,000 a year.

Bush has laid the groundwork for a substantial investment in education. Now, he just has to provide it.

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

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Below, from the Miami Herald editors: "Yet some schools in
desperately poor communities beat the odds, improved their scores
and emerged among the winners, getting a grade of A or B...."

(2) THE MIAMI HERALD

Posted on Sun, Jun. 16, 2002

GRADING FLORIDA'S SCHOOLS FCAT SCORES SHOW CONTRADICTIONS

Page One pictures in this and other newspapers across the state told the whole story. Some faces showed jubilation; others were in despair. The FCAT scores were in, and the results showed winners and losers.

These images show what teaching has come to in Florida. The question is: Does this constitute genuine education?

The just-released Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores were a mixed bag of successes, failures and contradictions. The scores confirmed the obvious link between poverty and low academic achievement.

Yet some schools in desperately poor communities beat the odds, improved their scores and emerged among the winners, getting a grade of A or B. Therein lie some of the lessons that should be heeded by the state, local school districts and the communities they serve: Schools with strong administrative leaders and involved, creative faculty do well; parental involvement and community support are essential for success; the jury is still out on vouchers.

The mixed message in FCAT grades was also reflected in a recent poll of Floridians that showed most residents are ambivalent about Gov. Jeb Bush's A+ Plan for Education. Some 46 percent of those polled said that schools were not improving under the governor's plan, although they gave the governor high marks for effort.

MORE F SCHOOLS

The test this year was more difficult than in years past. There were 14 F schools in Miami-Dade County -- five of them got a failing grade for the second time. There was one F school in Broward. However, there were more A schools in both counties.

This year's FCAT results give the clearest picture yet of what students are learning from grade to grade. Better yet, the tests are fairer now. Students get credit not just for what they know, but for their learning gains, too.

The test scores contain no magic bullet for what ails the failing schools. But some lessons cannot be ignored:

o Schools that scored lowest will continue to fail students if they are denied ample resources, including funding. Resources must be used creatively.

Each school district is required to develop an assistance and intervention plan for F schools. The plans must be approved by the state Board of Education. This is a district's best chance to fully examine a failing school's needs and develop a plan to dismantle barriers to improvement.

For example, at Miami Edison High School, which received its second F, any intervention attempted should focus on bridging cultural gaps that confront the Haitian-majority school. Many parents have little formal education; some students arrive not knowing how to read or write, even in their native Creole; and teacher turnover is high. Despite a dynamic, innovative principal and loads of school spirit, the school struggles to pass the FCAT.

At Dillard High -- the only F school in Broward, the remedial plan will have to focus on reading.

o Parents are an integral part of the equation. When parents aren't involved, their children may be doomed to failure. Individual schools, with help from downtown administrators and School Board members must develop outreach plans to bring parents into the fold.

o Community involvement is essential. One good example: At Charles Drew Elementary, an A school in Miami's inner city, a group of philanthropists helps shepherd students through their educational careers. Students know that they are expected to succeed, and they do. Though businesses have partnered with some local schools, far more volunteers and support are needed.

o School vouchers will not necessarily mean a better education. Stuents at the five Miami-Dade schools that twice have received F's now are eligible for vouchers that can be used at private schools. But students' options are severely limited by the few private schools willing or qualified to accept them. Here the A+ plan gives with one hand, but takes with the other. ''Opportunity scholarships'' must deliver just that -- a real chance for a better education.

The FCAT scores show that the state of education in Florida is still a muddle, neither completely reformed nor a complete failure. The challenge is for Florida to master the art of delivering quality education -- not just winners and losers.

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Below, from Jack Reed : "…I can't complain
about focused instruction in reading, writing and math when
so many students lack those skills in our increasingly competitive society."

(3) THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES

A Times Editorial

Measure of school reform success

St. Petersburg Times

published June 17, 2002

The debate over Gov. Jeb Bush's education reform plan focuses on three issues: vouchers, school grades and tests. Do vouchers weaken the financial underpinnings of public education or offer students trapped in a failing system a way out? Are letter grades for schools a publicity stunt or a reflection of performance? By placing such importance on a single standardized test, are we teaching to the test or teaching the necessary skills for success?

I could argue either side of those issues but they aren't what interest me now. I don't think vouchers will play an important role in the success or failure of Florida's schools. The letter grades assigned to schools are based on too simplistic a formula, but I think the exercise has made teachers and students try harder. I worry that preparation for the FCAT will dominate class time, yet I can't complain about focused instruction in reading, writing and math when so many students lack those skills in our increasingly competitive society.

Although polls show Floridians are divided on the plan, I believe Bush is winning the public relations battle. Parents want accountability from their schools, and the governor has given it to them. I hear people belittle the significance of FCAT scores and school grades, but when they're posted, everyone pays attention. From what I hear of parents' conversations, they take a school's grade seriously, and some apparently use the information when deciding where to live.

So while the governor's Democratic challengers might take exception to his tactics, they had better come up with their own proposal to hold schools to high standards or parents will tune them out.

A fair question for all of us to ask, however, is this: How will we know that the governor's plan has succeeded?

I put that question to Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan, a former state education commissioner, principal and teacher who helped write the plan. Don't get him started unless you have the time to listen. He is eloquent in defense of the plan, explaining how the state now has uniform academic standards and a consistent method of measuring whether those standards are being applied in every classroom throughout the state. He defends giving failing grades to schools this way: "Maybe people no longer will be able to camouflage consistent failure."

Who can argue with that? But it is difficult even for Brogan to say exactly how we will know that the plan is working. Student achievement "will be the epicenter of everything," he said. Children from poor families or who speak English as a second language will not be left behind.

Those are noble goals, but hard to measure. I'd like to add some others. Florida will begin to rise from near the bottom of so many education rankings, particularly on spending. After all, we are a large and wealthy state. Instead of fewer than 60 percent of our students graduating from high school, 70 or 80 percent will earn a diploma, as they do in other states. We won't be worried that a third of 10th-graders may not pass the test needed for graduation. When our high school graduates do enter college, half of them won't fail to make it to their junior year, as they do now.

The pressure is now on Gov. Bush to prove that his plan can accomplish such gains. If vouchers, school grades and testing do the job, then you won't hear a complaint from me.

-- Jack Reed is a Times editorial writer.

[summer]

Thanks for your post #2, mewzilla. I'm glad you enjoyed this read! As for Jeb's likely opponent, Janet Reno, I think the answer is she has no children.

[kinganamort]

great one... and bookmark for later repunk posting

[summer]

Great! Thanks, kinganamort. :)

[summer]

BTW, some public schools are, in fact, improving... :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[SpookBrat]

Thanks for the ping Summer. I'm so tired today, I don't know if I can make an intelligent post.

I've heard horrible things about the Duval County school district. I've heard this from teachers and parents both. (We are homeschooling BTW).

I’m not a teacher so I don’t know a lot. It seems to me there are a few easy answers right off the top that would do a world of good. 1. End social promotion, immediately. The child will get behind and it's pretty much over. 2. Accountability for the administration and teachers, but especially the administration. 3. Give teachers back their authority and get the difficult kids OUT of the classroom. And 4, IMHO, the number one problem is parents not giving a damn. (I won't go into how I feel about teacher unions at this time).

The reason why I feel this way is because of my experience volunteering at my children’s old school and substitute teaching. The kids who made better grades and cared about school had parents who cared how they did in school.

Government sponsored or mandatory pre-K, I feel is a waste of money. I taught my kids numbers and letters when they were 2. It's called sitting down with them and reading them books. DUH! I don’t see why we should spend millions of dollars on this, when all it takes is 10 minutes a day of quality time with your child.

The school they attended in Texas was an extremely poor country school district. This school was rated Exemplary. They dominated every year at district academic UIL meets. They excelled on the TAAS. The parents...all of us.....worked our tail ends off in PTO to raise money for the school. Our annual Halloween Carnival alone raised $20,000 a year, and we still had other fundraisers. $20,000 raised in one night in a POOR community says a lot.

The children’s success at this school I believe, had everything to do with: 1. The wonderful people they hired to teach our children and 2. Parents busting their butts to support the kids. We didn't just support our own. We went up there to read with other kids. We helped other children with their troubled subjects. It was all volunteer work and we did it because we wanted to be there. Because we cared.

Also, about the difficult kids in class……I would have never believed if I hadn’t seen it myself with my own eyes. I substituted one day in a class with a very difficult boy. Bless his heart, I’m sure he was a sweet kid, but OMGosh, he would NOT shut up, or sit down, or do his work. Every single time I gave him an instruction, he argued. Finally I very, very firmly warned him and told him to sit down. He threw his pencil. I sent him to the principles office. I was timing how much time he wasted for me and the other children. I figured we had 40 minutes on each subject and I timed him wasting 20 minutes each time I changed subjects. 20 minutes was how long it took me to get this kid to focus on the new subject. We had 5 subjects to cover that day, and he wasted almost 2 hours of the children’s day.

Sorry this is turning out to be so long. I’ve been meaning to discuss this with you for a very long time and kept forgetting to bring it up. I don't know what it takes to get a school to do better. All I know is our poor little school in Texas was awesome and it was mostly from parental involvement supporting the very good teachers there.

Now the biggest problem is: How can a government force a parent to care? They can’t. So I don’t know what it’s going to take. It seems like Jeb is doing a lot of the same things George did in Texas. I believe George did a very good job with Texas schools, despite what was reported by the Demorats.

I'm sorry this was so long and rambling. I just firmly believe more money isn't the answer. Billions are already spent and kids are still failing.

[SpookBrat]

Gosh that was long. I'm so sorry. LOL Thanks for your very informative post. Talk to you later.

[davidosborne]

passing in on... ANOTHER Great post Summer !!

David

[MeekOneGOP]

Bush bump !

[Prodigal Daughter]

Thank you for the flag. The schools need help and relief from the Washington educrats, and I'm glad to read that something is being done.

[mewzilla]

I know Reno doesn't have kids. But I'd be interested to know know many FL state lawmakers and members of large metro school boards, not to mention teachers, have their kids in private schools.

[summer]

Thanks so much, David! :)!

[summer]

But I'd be interested to know know many FL state lawmakers and members of large metro school boards, not to mention teachers, have their kids in private schools.

The short answer is: plenty.

[summer]

Re your post #26 - Spookbrat, there is actually some good news in Duval County, but, you have to know where to look! I will flag you on a thread about what's going on in some schools there, though, I don't doubt there are still schools struggling. As for social promotions - Gov Bush did eliminate that. And, many other changes have taken place. Do you get Gov. Bush's newsletter from the gov's office? That would help get you caught on everything, since you're new to FL! I'll freepmail you. :)

[summer]

The schools need help and relief from the Washington educrats, and I'm glad to read that something is being done.

I agree Gov. Bush has really stuck to his guns on education in this state. No offense to GW or anyone, but Gov. Bush did not change his plans to suit others -- he got others to change their tune and support him. Very interesting what has happened here in FL.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

bump

[SpookBrat]

I have heard he ended social promotion. (GW did in Texas too). This is something I feel very strongly about.

[summer]

Thanks! :)

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

This accountability thing is really catching on. People have figured out that you can't know where you're going, or how to get there, if you don't know where you are, and how you got to that point.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!