Saving schools may be Jeb's 'devious plan' [Kudos to Jeb, from The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Thomas]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | June 19, 2003 | Mike Thomas

[summer]

Mike Thomas

Saving schools may be Jeb's 'devious plan'

by Mike Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel

...The reality of school accountability, much to the chagrin of the Democrats, is that Jeb may well be saving public education in Florida.

What he did was expose the dirty little secret of the school system. It was taking poor, minority kids and passing them all the way through high school whether they learned anything or not. Many walked out the door without knowing how to read or do basic math.

This was the result of a system dominated by teachers unions, entrenched bureaucrats, administrators-for-life and incompetent school boards. The convoluted logic when Jeb took over was that exposing the failings of inner-city schools with an F grade somehow was racist.

Don't stigmatize these kids by failing their school!

Don't stigmatize these kids by holding them back!

It was better to keep quiet and let these schools rot with neglect and waste thousands of young minds in the process.

The only people stigmatized by accountability are those in the education bureaucracy failing the kids.

The encouraging grades that came out Wednesday won't stop the critics of accountability.

They will say schools are teaching to the FCAT. Well, that must mean they are teaching kids how to read, write and do math because that is what it takes to pass the test.

They will say kids simply are getting better at taking the FCAT. I hope so. Everything in this life involves taking a standardized test, be it getting into college, joining the Marines or becoming a sergeant in the police department.

Test-taking is a valuable skill in this world and one that has not been taught to many minority children. This is the real reason behind the so-called cultural bias of testing.

Say what you will about our governor being an elitist, cut-taxes-for-the-rich Republican. Call him cheap for not putting more money in schools.

But I'd never seen so many people worried about whether poor black children could read and write until Jeb Bush took office.

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

[summer]

But I'd never seen so many people worried about whether poor black children could read and write until Jeb Bush took office.

I agree, Mike! :)

Also see: Schools across Florida celebrate as grades soar - The Orlando Sentinel, June 19, 2003 Here's an excerpt:

While principals across Florida celebrated their scores, critics suggested that the improvements were more a reflection of teachers better preparing their students for the test.

"It doesn't mean that students are learning more," said Robert Schaeffer, spokesman for the National Center for Fair and Open testing, an advocacy group that questions use of testing programs such as the FCAT....

This guy and other critics of Gov Bush should be ashamed for not being big enough to thank Gov Bush for all he has done in this state, in his constant effort to help students of all colors.


Joy Taylor, principal of Mollie Ray Elementary in Orlando, reacts with glee as her school's improved FCAT grades are released Wednesday.


Bonnie Gyarfas (left), principal of Bonner Elementary School in Daytona Beach, gets a hug from special-education teacher Craig Miller after they heard the news that their school grade improved.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

A great read here. :)

[annyokie]

Thanks, summer!

[summer]

Thanks for your post, annyokie. :)

[annyokie]

You're very welcome!

[E=MC²]

(Amazingly, liberal mike thomas has had some nice things to say about Jeb in the past.) This improvement in schools just seems to be one more case of "progressive" liberals whining about something but never improving it (graham and chiles) and stabilizing conservatives not whining but actually changing things for the better. Liberals remind me of a shrew wife...never happy unless they are unhappy.

[Arkinsaw]

I love those pictures. Its amazing how excited people can become over a REAL accomplishment. They will most likely spread their excitement to the kids and thus the kids will realize they actually accomplished something and start looking forward to the next step.

Love those pictures.

[livius]

Yes!!! Our worst school here in Gainesville went from an F to an A! They busted their tails, and it all worked, and the kids absolutely soared! Go Jeb!

[summer]

Wow! Great news, livius! As I said on another thread, it's really an exciting time to teach in Florida.

[summer]

Love those pictures.

Same here. :)

[summer]

Amazingly, liberal mike thomas has had some nice things to say about Jeb in the past

According to a column Mike wrote last year, prior to the Nov 2002 election, Mike spent over an hour one-on-one with FL gov Dem candidate Bill McBride -- but, decided to cast his vote for Gov Bush, the first time Mike had voted for a GOP candidate. So, now, the liberal Mike Thomas has joined the ranks of FL's fastest growing voting segment -- swing voters. (I keep on such matters because I'm one of them too.) :)

[TwoStep]

**Bump**

[Truth Addict]

Mike Thomas is one of the few liberal columnists that has the ability to cast aside partisan politics and give credit to a Republican governor when he takes actions that produce results that actually help minorities and the poor instead of just pandering to them.

He has been on Jeb's bandwagon for a while now, and I can only hope that he has helped some of his readers turn from the dark side and give credit where credit is due: it is our governor's policies and the teachers who have implemented them that have produced these excellent results, not the unions and the bureaucrats.

[Cordova Belle]

Inspiring and encouraging!

Kind of like a 2003 version of "Lean on Me."

This is great news.

[summer]

and give credit to a Republican governor

Yes, I must admit, I am now a bigger fan of Mike Thomas simply because I see he is willing to be fair. He still writes columns criticizing Gov Bush on various matters, but whenever the topic turns to education, I notice Mike comes out swinging in defense of Gov Bush.

And, it really saddens me that some people are so partisian in this state that they can not celebrate the very real achievements of this GOP governor -- and these FL students.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Truth Addict. BTW, I meant to write you back on the other thread as well, but I was so tired! :)

[iconoclast]

Jeb may well be saving public education in Florida.

That's about on a par with saving tooth decay.

[summer]

and give credit to a Republican governor

Yes, I must admit, I am now a bigger fan of Mike Thomas simply because I see he is willing to be fair. He still writes columns criticizing Gov Bush on various matters, but whenever the topic turns to education, I notice Mike comes out swinging in defense of Gov Bush.

And, it really saddens me that some people are so partisian in this state that they can not celebrate the very real achievements of this GOP governor -- and these FL students.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Truth Addict. BTW, I meant to write you back on the other thread as well, but I was so tired! :)

[summer]

LOL...well, I would disagree with that, iconclast. BTW, I must say: you seem true to your name. :)

[summer]

Thanks for your upbeat post here, Cordova Belle. :)