A wise end to social promotion [by a new, black columnist re: Jeb ends social promotion]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | May 25, 2002 | David Porter

[Truth Addict]

No problem, I knew what you meant. :)

[summer]

Thanks for being so understanding, TA. :)

[valkyrieanne]

Thanks for the link to the Jeb Bush proposed program. One thing I found interesting was this focus on *older* non-readers:

Teachers and administrators for grades 6-12 will be able to apply for stipends to attend college reading courses so they may learn best practices on identifying struggling secondary readers and teaching them to catch up.

They're admitting the fundamental core of the problem here: that there are a sizeable percentage of students in FL schools that have not learned to read, period. Whether this is because of an innate inability to learn to read, or horrifically poor teaching remains to be seen. Whatever the cause, it's good to see recognition that teaching people who are for all practical purposes illiterate *adults* is very different from teaching younger children.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

He believe that in the long run attendance at schools would go up if attendance was optional.
I believe that too.

I also believe students who leave school for a year, on a legal leave of absence, and instead work fulltime, may just decide to return to school after one year -- only this time, having mopped floors in a Burger King for a year, they may be much more motivated than they ever were before they took their glamorous day job for 40 hours per week.

And, thus, the number of high school drop outs would plummet.

[summer]

Thanks for the link to the Jeb Bush proposed program....

My pleasure. But, note: this program is not "proposed" as you described it -- rather, it has been signed into law, and is in place. :)

[summer]

And, of course, that doesn't mean everything will change in every public school this week. But, the changes are on-going...

[summer]

Re my post #66 - I also believe we need a lot more vocational education options for the students who want to pursue that track.

[summer]

BTW, a lot more specific info about Just, Read FL! is available from the state's web site, HERE.

[SiliconValleyGuy]

I agree - and, Gov. Bush has never done that.

I agree, and although I am not a Floridian I do respect what little I know that he has done in the area of environmental protection. Doing something in that area without bowing to the demands of the extremists is an accomplisment itself, and I think Bush has succeeded there (so far).

[summer]

bttt :)