3rd-graders who can't read won't move on [Jeb: Financial penalties for "social promotion"]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | May 3, 2002 | Dave Weber

[summer]

Students who failed the 3rd grade reading test were to be held back this coming school year, but fear is overwhelming everyone involved, so, they will be held back in 2003.

Hopefully, this is also a huge wake-up call to parents as well.

[summer]

Re your post #13 - I don't think so, Paul, because remember, Gov. Bush has just started a voucher program for low income parents in FL, and as a result, 11 (eleven) new private schools have sprung up in Orlando. And, many of the parents taking these vouchers are black. The new schools are being started in churches, storefronts, and elsewhere, and they are catering to these black parents. If this helps the students, then, I say, good.

[summer]

Well, if they learn to read and write, there may be even more voters in Dade County - and elsewhere. :)

[summer]

Yeah, I beileve that will happen. There will be some arguments, but, we'll see...

[summer]

Thanks, JS! I really appreciate your support. :)!

[summer]

Most kids do learn to read but lack practice honing their reading skills enough to become good readers. If the teachers really pounced on it and showed the parents how to help their children, they probably wouldn't be having a problem with reading...

Slyfox, you are so right here. And, many students learning to read WANT to read -- and, desperately want an audience for their reading, more than anything. Some parents innately understand this, while other parents do not. That's why Gov. Bush's constant push for family literacy is also so important - to reach those parents who do not read themselves, and who do not spend time with their kids. Thanks for your very on-target post.

[summer]

FYI. A good read. :)

[GailA]

All taxquist "catch up" plan is teaching to the test. No real gains would be made, except to fleece Tax Serfs of their money and fail to "really" educate their children. They do intensive teaching to the TCAP and after up to 13 tries many can't even pass it to graduate High School.

[mafree]

It is a good read- GO JEB!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Social promotion does nobody any favors. Not the student,
not the parents and not the future taxpayers that will have to
lend a hand to the ones that can't get jobs......

Bush bump! :O)

[summer]

Thanks so much for your comments here! :)

[summer]

after up to 13 tries many can't even pass it to graduate High School.

Yikes!

[Salvation]

You have a good point, Gail. Middle school is really not the place to teach reading, and students need to learn to read in elementary school. By middle school, they are often too frustrated, and just waiting to drop out of school.

True---and they display a lot of anger toward school and the teachers and instructional assistants, too.

[summer]

Yes, the anger often comes from the frustration. And, just breaking through that anger takes some real creativity and hard work by a reading teacher in a middle school. Some of these students will not even open a book, period.

[summer]

FYI. :)