Bush's New Mantra: 'Just Read, Florida!' [Dem school principal backs Jeb's focus: READING]

The Tampa Tribune via www.jeb.org ^ | May 7, 2002 | Ellen Gedalius

[summer]

Jeb addresses teachers and
principals at FL's 2nd annual
Governor's Educators' Leadership Summitt.

Tuesday, May 7, 200
Tampa Tribune

Bush's New Mantra: 'Just Read, Florida!'

By Ellen Gedalius

TAMPA - Gov. Jeb Bush touted his Just Read, Florida! initiative to about 200 educators Monday, saying teachers, parents and businesses need to collaborate to ensure children are literate.

Bush's goal is to have all Florida students read at or above grade level by 2012. Bush created the initiative in September.

''It's not about politics, it's not about statistics, it's about real people,'' Bush said Monday. ''This is about children being able to pursue their dreams.''

Bush was in Tampa to speak at the second annual Governor's Educators' Leadership Summit, a two-day series of workshops for Florida educators sponsored by Citigroup and held at its center in Hillsborough County.

Educators need to give special attention to students in the bottom 25th percentile, Bush said, adding that progress will be gradual.

''You're going to see it in increments not discernible to the naked eye,'' he said.

Programs need to teach students in all grades how to read, he said.

''It makes no sense to me we stop teaching reading after fourth grade,'' Bush said. ''If a kid stops reading when in fourth grade, by eighth grade, atrophy sets in.''

Many teachers said they agree with Bush's reading initiative and look forward to seeing results.

''I'm a pretty strong Democrat, and I liked very much what he said,'' said Polly Koper, principal of Blankner School in Orlando.

Though Eileen Myers was skeptical of Bush's claim that he has increased education funding, she was satisfied with his overall message.

''It's very obvious he's in support of reading and is heading in the direction we need to move,'' said Myers, principal of Pizzo Elementary School in Tampa. ''The teaching of reading is a very complex process. It's not like assembling a car. Every child is different.''

Gov Bush visits with a 4 year old -- and future FL reader.

[summer]

Check out what these two school principals in FL publicly said about Jeb:

''I'm a pretty strong Democrat, and I liked very much what he said,'' said Polly Koper, principal of Blankner School in Orlando….

''It's very obvious he's in support of reading and is heading in the direction we need to move,'' said Myers, principal of Pizzo Elementary School in Tampa…

My prediction:

Watch Gov Bush surprise everyone with the large number of votes he receives this November from FL educators.

BTW --


For more info about Gov. Bush's
new reading initiative, click here.

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

I meant to include you in that flag above! :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[Ron in Acreage]

Jeb is doing a great job trying to rescue Florida from an educational slide that went on for 8yrs under democrat Lawton Chiles. Lawton had zero solutions to Floridas education problems. I think the democrats stranglehold on our teachers and students is starting to slip. Finally, the teachers are starting to see the light. Put children before democrat party politics for a change.

[summer]

I think you are right on the money, Ron. Thanks for your on-target post.

Sincerely, summer :)

[TwoStep]

**Bump**

[Truth Addict]

Summer,

I commend Jeb for his emphasis on teaching reading to all of Florida's students, and the need for remedial courses for fourth graders, but if the state is really serious about teaching reading, they need to change the way that reading is taught.

Phonics is far superior to whole word reading, and should be the basis for reading education even at the pre-K level (and beyond). I have seen this demonstrated in all three of my own children, and my wife who is a Florida certified early childhood teacher and director of a pre-school, can give many more success stories. Florida's kindergarten students are forbidden from learning that the alphabet represents sounds because it is thought that they are not developed enough to grasp the concept. If a child is incapable of associating a sound with a letter, then why are they encouraged to learn that a cow makes a sound like "moo"?

All true written languages are built upon the concept that letters or other symbols represent certain sounds. Phonics is the foundation of all reading, not whole word, look-say.

[summer]

Hi Truth Addict,

Thank you for your thoughtful post here. And, I agree with you: there needs to be more emphasis on phonics. In addition, I think Gov. Bush agrees with you:

From this article here:

In recent weeks, Governor Bush has been unveiling detailed components of Just Read, Florida!, including the role of better-trained educators and parents, as well as the community and business world. One of the initiative's key features includes the use of research-based methods. Just Read, Florida! incorporates methods that emphasize the five key components of reading instruction: fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, phonemic awareness and phonics.

Gov. Bush has mandated more phonics instruction in schools, and in teacher training for reading. It is a major component. And, a big change for FL students and teachers. :)

[summer]

Thanks so much for bumping this thread, TwoStep! :)

[summer]

Also, Truth Addict, I agree with you again: reading basics need to start early for all kids. In fact, Gov Bush is not merely pushing for reading awareness in K, he wants to start in pre-K. From this article here:

Governor Bush announced that the Florida Partnership for School Readiness is working hard to put reading at the forefront of their efforts with pre-school-age children.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to highlight these important components of Just Read, FL!

BTW, your wife sounds like a wonderful teacher. Just like you. :)

[Truth Addict]

Gov. Bush has mandated more phonics instruction in schools, and in teacher training for reading. It is a major component. And, a big change for FL students and teachers. :)

You are right in pointing out that Jeb's "Just Read Florida" effort places more emphasis on phonics, and especially on sound research. Do you know when these new policies will begin to be implemented, and are you aware of any significant resistance to these changes among your teaching colleagues?

[summer]

According to the Executive Order for Just Read, FL! the changes are effective immediately.

Now, obviously, it will take some time to actually implement all these changes, as nothing happens overnight, especially in education. But, "effective immediately" is very different than some far-off future date, as I understand it.

And, no, I am not aware of resistance to these changes, as teachers I know are thrilled someone with the high visibility of our governor is demonstrating much-needed leadership in this matter of education reform.

Hope that answers your questions, as I am just giving you the best info I have. :)

[Truth Addict]

I am not aware of resistance to these changes,

That's good to hear. I asked because the whole word approach seems to be rather firmly entrenched in the educational establishment, and I know that changing one's approach to teaching a subject is not easy, and resistance is normal.

It's getting rather late, so I will be leaving this thread for now; I may show it to my wife tomorrow and see if she has any comments to make.

[mafree]

GO JEB!!

[2Trievers]

Great post summer ... sending you and your guy the best! &;-)

[summer]

Thanks, mafree. :)

[summer]

Nice to hear from you, 2Trievers! Thanks for checking this out. :)!

[summer]

You're right yet again, Truth Addict -- there is often a lot of resistance to change.

However, even Maureen Dinnen, the head of the teachers union here in FL, was reported as saying she too supports what Gov Bush is trying to do in reading. If I had more time, I would dig up the article, as I do remember reading it. (She will probably never admit that again, in this election season, but, she did say it once!) :)