Jeb's power grab

[seafan]

Once again, Jeb takes Floridians to school.

Hurry, January, 2007.



Jeb's power grab

April 2, 2006

New school takeover bill rates F-minus

Ask any college admissions officer how many entering freshmen know what their majors will be. They'll probably double over in laughter before answering: Very few.

Ask the parents of college sophomores if their children know their major. The answer likely will be: If only. . .

But Republican leaders in Tallahassee can't be bothered with such evidence of adolescent aimlessness. They want to force Florida students to declare a major when they enter high school. That's around age 14.

That's the thrust of a bill already approved by an 85-35 vote in the Florida House and awaiting consideration in the Senate. Another scheme by Gov. Jeb Bush, the "A-Plus-Plus Plan for Education" would impose a vast new curriculum burden on local school districts without offering any state money to implement the plan or any scholarly proof that it will succeed. Indeed, it would make Florida the only state to require high school freshmen to declare a major, which makes one wonder what the governor and Florida legislators know about education that thousands of education professionals around the country don't.

snip

The plan would become effective in 2007 for the class of 2011. That would give local boards just a year to do a major overhaul of high school curriculum as the plan includes an additional year of math and science plus creation of new career academies to serve various spheres of interest. Yet the bill creators declare that "there are no new programs or mandates that significantly impact districts," meaning there will be no additional financial support to implement it.

snip

That the House passed this bill with very little debate and no input from academicians says much about the Legislature's lack of concern for the views of professional educators - those who know most about how to achieve academic success. But it fits a pattern for the man who considers himself the "Education Governor" and the legislative leaders who do his bidding.

In fact, the bill is loaded with provisions that amount to a power grab that appears to violate the state Constitution giving authority to run the public schools to the state Board of Education and local boards.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/opinion/14242474.htm

[acmavm]

1. When are people in Florida going to get sick and tired of Jeb and his

totally unrealistic psychotic policies that affect the schools?

[seafan]

5. We are, and have been for a LONG time. Florida is an abused spouse.

One thing I've learned a long time ago... we have to stay focused on these people 24/7/365, because this particular member of the family has *an agenda*.

And he will stop at nothing to attain it.

Just this week, the repeated spin from the usual sources is that he has such a "good" approval rating. In their dreams.

[acmavm]

10. I am terrified that we'll soon be finding out that that crooked bastard

plans on taking his even more (if that's possible) crooked stupider brother's place.

[Canuckistanian]

2. I heard a line from a TV show that I still remember

It was about a child prodigy, about 15 years old who was going to university. HE didn't declare his major and was asked why.

His reply: "I don't want to be a resentful 40-year old stuck in a job chosen by a 15-year old"

[silverweb]

3. WTF?

That's just plain STUPID.

:crazy:

Just another reason to never, ever, ever go to Jebbieland!

[seafan]

7. Please come on down! We need all hands on deck to drive him out.

Seriously.


He's trying to force underhanded policies that will persist long after he is gone.

Reaction to Bush's legacy, and his attempts to guard it, typically vary with the political affiliation of the observer, but all agree it was significant, whether for good or ill, especially in terms of changing the education system, strengthening the executive branch, cutting taxes and privatizing government.
"You can't govern and do a good job without creating some controversy and making people mad," said J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich, a former Bush campaign adviser and chief of staff to Republican Gov. Bob Martinez, for whom Bush worked briefly as secretary of commerce.

Stipanovich in particular praised Bush's education policies, which grade schools on the basis of annual student testing. "He revolutionized the structure of education in this state."
Incoming House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber called that same education plan a perfect example of the failure of Bush's policies. "In a few years, everyone's going to look back at this high-stakes testing, treating children like lab rats, and see it like using leeches in health care."

Former Democratic Gov. Bob Graham, who spent his final year in that office running for the U.S. Senate seat that he went on to hold for 18 years, said it never occurred to him to ask state employees to maintain his policies after he was gone.
"My feeling is that the Egyptians tried to preserve the legacies of their pharaohs by building sphinxes and pyramids for them," Graham said. "I don't think most people are into sphinxes anymore."

Even some Republicans were critical of Bush's plan for his legislative "farm team," which included an offer last fall to incoming House Speaker Marco Rubio to put his prospective staff on the state payroll a year early in various governor's agency jobs.

"You've got to fill the water cooler with the Kool-Aid so those who come after you can drink of it," one Republican senator said privately.

http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Bush+looks+to+extend+his+legacy&expire=&urlID=17425509&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.palmbeachpost.com%2Fstate%2Fcontent%2Fstate%2Fepaper%2F2006%2F03%2F05%2Fm1a_LEGACY_0305.html&partnerID=494

[silverweb]

11. Thanks for the invite.

I'll contribute to Dean's DNC and viable Dem candidates in Florida when I can, but otherwise I'm staying on the Left Coast.

The good people of Florida will have to be the ones to drive the reTHUG gangs out of their state when they've had enough of the bullshit. Good luck to you all!

[Union Thug]

4. geez - I'm 42 years old and still don't know what the hell my major is,

was, or will be....

Have fun mind-fucked slaves of the future. Your parents have created a corporate Utopia that ironically mimicks the world that was described in their anti-soviet rhetoric in the 60s and 70s. I remember the bullshit about being selected to be a plumber or electrician or otherwise while still babes in their mothers arms...

Funny that what was feared is what is in the plans, but without the benefits of a socialist government (free education, medical care, day care, etc).

You will be assimilated.

[FloridaPat]

6. There was a story that they were only teaching math and reading

down here because of the stupid FCATs. Everyone hates them, but no one seems to be able to figure out how to have a decent school system here.

[seafan]

8. A grand start will be when Jeb finally vacates the Governor's mansion.

Gutting his handiwork will be healing therapy for the people of this beleaguered state... from his laboratory experiments on our children's education,

to the blind eye he turns toward the environment and coastal drilling,

to the corruption in the prison system,

to the corruption in the awarding of business contracts,

to the many missing children in the Department of Children and Families,

to the continuing engineered theft of our election system by his hand-picked minions such as Secretary of State,

to the greasing of the skids for brother Neil's Ignite! educational software,

to the many more *devious plans* he has in store for Florida until December 31, 2006...



It will be a healing rain after a long, drought of cruel thirst.

[FloridaPat]

13. the repubs own the FL legislature. Which I can't believe because

Democrats outnumber repubs!

[left is right]

9. please explain

What exactly is the point of declaring a major by a high school freshman? Is it economically motivated? Will it ensure that there will be resources/space available for students in the chosen major?

A thousand years ago, when I went to high school a major was six semesters a minor was 4. Every student had a major in English/Literature and at least a minor in History. Two majors and 2 minors or 3 majors were required. Has that changed?

[seafan]

12. This whole high school major concept is foreign to me. Still trying

to figure out what the payoff to this is... other than some grand delusion of control that whets his appetite continually.

[FloridaPat]

14. When I went to high school there was pre-college and everyone

else. No majors. That was in 3 different states too.

[seafan]

15. Many parents, students skeptical of Jeb's latest educational scheme.

And Jeb is not happy unless he can micromanage everything he touches.


Parents, students weigh in on choosing majors

By MARKESHIA RICKS and ANNA SCOTT
April 4, 2006

SARASOTA -- An idea aimed at improving public education and making Florida schools more competitive in the global economy is receiving mixed reviews from parents and students.
The idea, part of the A Plus-Plus Plan education reform bill, would require that ninth-graders entering high school in 2007 declare a major area of study as incoming college freshmen do.
State lawmakers are still hashing out how the plan would work, and it will ultimately depend on whether the House and Senate can agree on requirements.

snip

And while some students and parents in the area don't like the idea, Sarasota County school officials say parents and students won't see many changes if the bill passes.
For the past five years, the district has been creating small learning communities at its five high schools. The communities are designed to give large high schools a school-within-a-school feel by grouping academic and elective courses together.

snip

Parker Drury, an eighth-grader at Sarasota Middle School, likes math and science and would major in health and medicine if she had to choose. But she thinks forcing freshman to choose a major in ninth grade is a bad idea.
"We're teenagers," she said. "I can barely decide what to wear to school each day. What makes anyone think we can accurately choose what we want to do in the future?"

snip

Michael Holland, whose son is an honors student at Riverview High School, worries that having students declare a major would narrow their focus too much.

He believes high school should be a time for students to explore all their options.

snip

Kelli Derix, a freshman in the International Baccalaureate program at Riverview, was glad she didn't have to select a major or an academy. She says she wouldn't know where to begin.

"There are so many things I want to be that I can't narrow it down to just one," she said. "I would probably want to teach or something."

snip

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060404/NEWS/604040320

[katty]

16. when will FL ,50%of u.s.,DLC stop being afraid of Bush monarchy?!

[teryang]

17. Class room size amendment results in elimination of senior year

This is part of JebFRAUD's devious plan to thwart the constitutional will of the people. The amendment limited classroom size. Bush's devious plan? Eliminate the requirment to go to high school for four years. Ha! I guess he fooled the voters good! He reduced high school to three years! Floridians want more and better quality education, Jeb delivers less.

By forcing the high schoolers to declare their "major" they can better divert education funds to other functions that they can steer to their crony corporate friends. If one declares the wrong major, they may be looking at lopping off a year of high school.

Think of how this will screw families and students with developmental disabilities. The handicapped and minorities from disadvantaged backgrounds will suffer the most from this. And this is how it should be in corporate screw you - bushworld.