GOV JEB BUSH AND ED COMMISS ANNOUNCE 2003 SCHOOL GRADES -- 600% increase in ‘A’ Schools

Have you taken the META course yet? I took it 14 years ago and it was a pain then...and it was one key reason that students have been "DUMBED DOWN" on standards. It mandated that teachers cease correcting the spelling and grammatical errors of non-English speakers as that would have negative impact on their self perceptions and self worth. It was the start of our current troubles. I'm in agreement with your buddy. But it'll never happen.

I never even heard of it! But, I think there would a lot of support from teachers for that one teacher's suggestion to require some level of English proficiency for all students prior to them entering a classroom where English is spoken. I realize research says these kids can pick up English in the classroom, but it would sure help to have 300 hours of specialized instruction going on with respect to those ESOL students -- along with the teachers.

"the test is culturally biased"--"Well, if by "culturally biased" you mean the test is in English, instead of the native language of these students, then, yes, I guess you could say it is biased - biased by being in English in a country where we have no national language by law."

Well, yes there is THAT. But I was speaking of the common experiences by which many test questions are based especially in the writing and essay and reading areas. If you are white middle class, many are self evident based on your background experiences. But folks from other cultures don't have the benefit of those experiences and values and thus cannot by definition do as well on this portion of the test. Let's just not kid ourselves that the test is completely impartial in all ways to all people. That is impossible.

Look Summer, I'm WITH you on this and as I said, FCAT works in 65 out of 67 Florida counties. I personally think we should mandate a moratorium on all immigration until we can absorb and educate what we have while tending to the needs of our native born poor folks. We don't need the flotsam and jetsam of the entire world washing up on our shores expecting the land of milk and honey without a lick of effort....and that means a free education.

I have not seen evidence that you have to be white or middle class to write a coherent essay, but I do sympathize with the struggle to teach the population you are teaching in your school. It's not easy, and I know that from my own experiences with that same population.

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