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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 12, 2002
Re: Long, lazy days of . . ., oops! Not this summer, by Howard Troxler, Aug. 5.
Once again, Howard Troxler takes the thoughts circulating in my mind and writes them into his tongue-in-cheek column regarding Pinellas County's early school start, and the real reason behind this "pipsqueak of a summer" for kids -- FCAT.
Growing up in Ohio, my summers began the first week of June and ended Labor Day weekend. Three full months filled with fun and freedom, with not a worry in the world except for when to get up, what to do and what was for lunch. It was sacrilegious to even think of school beginning before September! But here in Florida, kids don't get to be kids but do get their youth cut short (and most likely their life longevity in the end) and start living early with the anxiety and stress of having to prepare for FCAT.
FCAT. Let's change the meaning to "Forget Cramming And Testing." Especially for "comprehensive assessment" reasons. Teachers are having to become monotone, complacent robots in order to graduate students who are really only trained animals. A generation of real Pavlov's dogs. All in the name of future success, according to the authorities and bureaucrats.
I for one would rather my child learn life's lessons the old fashioned way through reading, writing and 'rithmetic (with a dash of imagination and play tossed in) and in the end, be tested on his or her character, morals and principles.
Give our youth back the long, hazy, lazy days of summer, please!
-- Lynn York, Clearwater
Re: Schools early start brings concerns, letter, Aug. 7.
All I can do is shake my head at how easily some people pushing an agenda can sway others to their views.
As far as "concerns" over the heat and humidity for three weeks in August as compared to September, all I can think is, are you kidding? For one thing, the temperature and humidity difference in September is negligible at best. Does anyone truly think that an average daytime temperature of 87 is any less brutal than an average of 90?
The letter writer says that no kid wants to spend close to an hour running around in this weather. Then she adds that September has much better weather for that. She also mentions that when she grew up, school started after Labor Day and ended in mid-June. I would ask her and all other parents upset over this: Did your kids hole up all summer in your homes, out of the sunshine and elements? Did they not play outside with friends during daylight hours this summer? When you were a kid, didn't you?
Finding things to whine about when none exist is typical of America now.
-- Jim Barraford, Largo
Re: FCAT tests complex, conflicting emotions, Aug. 4.
The FCAT tests have turned our educational system upside down. In fact, the government officials who introduced this form of testing and rewarding schools must have downed a big dose of stupidity and blindsightedness for not realizing what the overall effect would be on our children.
Each year the teachers get to have their hands tied in order to "help their students perform better on the FCAT" (for the sake of the school). It seems that the role of the teacher has shifted from teaching the true curriculum to that of test procter and cheerleader. It has become common practice for schools to bribe students to show up for the test, and the pressure is certainly on them to perform well. For you see, the school that does well gets a big monetary reward.
Our children get to go back to school two weeks earlier than in prior years in order to better prepare for this travesty of a test called the FCAT. Already school officials are contacting parents not to make any plans during FCAT week, as to make sure every child is present to test. If you think about it all, it is so ridiculous!
Instead of teaching for the test, as is currently done, the academic curriculum syllabus should be taught throughout the school year. At the end of the year a national standardized test should be given. However, money should never be tied into a child's performance and, more important, our children should not be pressured or bribed to do well for the sake of the school. If the academic curriculum is taught properly, our students should perform well without having to be bribed in any way. The money the state is so willing to give away to our current "A"-rated schools should be disbursed equally among all schools.
Parents, you need to wake up, and take a look at the parents in Scarsdale, N.Y. Last year they protested this type of assessment testing by keeping their children home from school on the test days. We as parents do have the power to change this FCAT problem, and in turn give our children the education they deserve to have. Every parent has a voice to be heard, especially in Tallahassee!
-- Marianne Wilson, Clearwater
Re: Judge strikes Florida vouchers, Aug. 6.
The American Jewish Committee applauds the Aug. 5 ruling by a Florida circuit court declaring the state's school voucher program in violation of the Florida Constitution.
Simply put, the court saw through the sham of voucher programs. Pretending that funneling public monies to religious schools through parental vouchers does not constitute state aid to religion elevates form over substance.
Like many states, Florida's Constitution contains a specific provision barring the diversion of taxpayer dollars to religious institutions. Coming on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court's Zelman decision in June, which held vouchers permissible under the federal Constitution and appeared to breathe life into the pro-voucher campaign, the Florida court's ruling highlights Zelman's limited impact.
In striking down the nation's first statewide voucher program, the court sent a clear signal that explicit language in state constitutions barring governmental support of religious instruction will be strictly enforced.
The American Jewish Committee hopes that the ruling will dissuade other states from adopting school voucher programs.
-- Ruth F. Young, executive director, West Coast Florida Chapter, American Jewish Committee, Sarasota
Back in June, I was pleased the U.S. Supreme Court decision was sympathetic to the idea of school vouchers paying tuition for children at religious schools. Sadly, now in August, a court in Tallahassee has ruled against vouchers in Florida.
Teachers' unions and their Democrat handlers remain absolutely clueless as to the quality and capabilities of many fine private and religious schools. They grin from ear to ear while kids face losing their vouchers and remaining stuck in poorly performing public schools.
Americans are lucky to have private schools. Newspapers often publish testimonials from parents describing their good reputation. Their strength is their level of academic teaching, and the values, morality and ethics that are woven into their curriculum.
Finally, I am tired of all the whining about using "tax dollars" to send kids to private schools. Every kid in every private school has parents who pay their county school taxes without burdening their public school system with the expenses of educating their children. If not vouchers, can they at least get a refund of their school taxes?
Why should it matter to anyone how our education dollars are spent as long as local kids receive a quality education? If public schools can't perform, let's give some money to a private or religious school system with a proven track record for educating kids.
-- Robert C. Gotshall Jr., Palm Bay
Re: Tests for sale (Doctors not included), Aug. 6.
I take thyroid medication and have been told I need to have blood checks yearly to assess the amount of medication in my system. The first tests I had cost me almost $300. As I do not have insurance of any kind, I found that hard to handle.
The next year I saw an ad for the same test for $70. My results were sent to me by Quest and I got to see them for myself. (They are not that hard to interpret!) The doctor I was seeing at the time told me this was not "allowed" legally. This year I paid nearly $300 again (to Quest) for doctor-ordered tests. I am very happy to see that this is being offered by CVS.
There are many people out here without insurance, and I think this is a very helpful, needed service. Thanks, Quest, I'll see you next year if the doctors don't squelch this very valuable service.
-- J. Taylor, Tarpon Springs
Your editorial, Not the way to clear the air (Aug. 3) was right on. President Bush's plan to clean up air pollution would do nothing to decrease the amount of toxic waste being emitted by power plants and other industrial sources. Far from it, the plan amounts to the biggest rollback of our clean air laws in recent history.
I suffer from asthma, which has been linked to smog pollution. Given that Bush's plan would allow power plants to emit 53,000 additional tons of smog in Florida alone, my asthma will probably get worse. Clearly, this isn't a concern of the Bush administration, which seems willing to give utility companies anything they want.
The situation got so bad that in February, EPA's head of enforcement, Eric Schaeffer, resigned in protest. What else will it take for the president to listen to the people, instead of the special interests? And why won't our own elected officials, such as Rep. C.W. Bill Young, stand up for clean air?
-- Jason Stabins, St. Petersburg
Re: The Deuces, July 28.
Thank you for your special report on The Deuces. St. Petersburg's 22nd Street S has always brought dreams and visions to my head.
I used to lunch with Morris Milton and Watson Haynes years ago and would drive down 22nd Street to pick up Morris for lunch. Morris told me that he and Watson were teaching me to eat black. Forget it, I was raised in the South -- all sweet tea, salted and fried.
The love of 22nd Street S has never gone away. Every time I drive down that street, I see Bourbon Street and jazz and fancy street lights from First Avenue S all the way to an entertainment district for St. Petersburg. If ever there were "a natural," it's 22nd Street S. The street has music.
Thanks again for your article.
-- Geneva Forrester, St. Petersburg
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