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Re: NAACP challenge attacks FCATs, by Stephen Hegarty, Aug. 29.
Rarely can one word evoke so many painful memories. Speaking of the NAACP civil rights complaint concerning the FCAT, Education Commissioner Jim Horne, said "The organization has based their career on agitating."
I remember when "black agitators" was the Southern, racist pejorative term for brave civil rights activists struggling for their civil rights. Commissioner Horne was fully aware of the historically and racially packed significance of that one word. So much for "One Florida." He can say what he wants now, but in his use of that one word he has clearly exposed the arrogant, insular attitude of Florida's educational leadership.
Jeb Bush and his administration are so enamored of the statistical information received from the FCAT they feel they can grade our kids and our schools using that one instrument. Well, let Gov. Bush and Commissioner Horne consider these statistics: Some 63 percent of white students in Pinellas County scored at or above grade level, while only 22 percent of black students did as well. Black students are far overrepresented in special education classes. We have a problem. The FCAT exposes that problem, but it also unfairly penalizes black students.
All who care about the education of our children should join with the NAACP in protesting the punitive nature and results of the present use of the FCAT. At the same time, we must realize that the FCAT has exposed the failure of the present educational system to meet the educational need of black students. This is not a black-white issue. This is not about agitation. This is about insisting that our educational system meets the needs of all children. It is the educational system that is failing here, not black students.
Re: NAACP challenge attacks FCATs.
I would like to applaud state Education Commissioner Jim Horne for standing up and saying what he thinks. It's not very often that someone in public office speaks up, especially when it's not considered "politically correct." I'm only sorry that he felt he had to turn around and apologize for saying what he really felt, which is that the NAACP as an organization bases a lot of its issues on agitating a large portion of society.
My former wife is a middle school teacher, who teaches ESE students. The state of Florida has specific programs in place to identify, at an early age, those students with any type of learning disability or special needs. Once identified, these students have individual academic programs developed, geared to their individual needs, to provide them every opportunity to learn and succeed. The "checks and balances" in place ensure that these individual plans are being followed - to the letter.
The old saying "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" could also say, "You can make a kid go to school, but you can't make him learn!" That applies not only to blacks, but to all races.
For the NAACP to come out and say that the state is discriminating against African-American students by perpetuating a system of segregation and unequal education is totally irresponsible. The group needs to focus its efforts more on what the probable causes are, and it's not the education system.
Re: NAACP challenge attacks FCATs.
Information in the Aug. 29 Times concerning the NAACP challenge to the FCAT seems to violate the "Advancement" term in the group's title. Passing students who fail a required test or changing the standard will not advance anyone.
What this organization should do is to determine why so many black students fail. Then it should work on an appropriate solution to the problem. There are a host of reasons why this problem exists. However, claiming to be a victim, blaming poor living conditions, etc., will not solve the problem.
If better instruction in school is required, insist on it. If an improved environment will help, improve it. If conditions are going to improve for black children, black leaders are going to have to determine the source of the problem then take steps to fix it.
In the case of the FCAT, if the majority of students can pass it, then the problem surely is not the test. So we must find out where the deficiency is and do whatever is necessary to solve the problem. That should be the goal of the NAACP. Work to improve the capabilities of the students instead of making excuses for them to use.
It's really sad to hear that the FCAT system has now found itself in the arena of "discrimination." The sad truth about our society, regardless of race, is that we're so quick to point fingers when things don't go our way. Some of my friends would be considered minorities, yet they still find time to work with their children every night when it comes to homework. They don't drive fancy cars, live in a fancy house, or make six figures a year. What they do have is pride and integrity.
How about concentrating on spending more time with our children and their future? As we all know, life does not come with a manual, and it's up to us to be that guide to those children regardless of race, creed or color. Excuses are for quitters, so please start being accountable and be the right role model to our future, the children.
In attacking the FCATs as a racist tool, the NAACP has taken a giant step toward irrelevance. In the past 40 years it has gone from opposing segregated schools to opposing school voucher programs (70 percent of African-Americans favor them), and state efforts to improve failing schools, many of which are in predominantly black neighborhoods.
If the NAACP wants to remain politically significant, a dramatic change in focus could be accomplished using the March of Dimes as a model. It was created in 1938 to research a cure for polio. The Salk vaccine was the result and in 1958 it declared its mission accomplished. Instead of disbanding it redirected its efforts to preventing birth defects. Today it has a string of victories to its credit.
The NAACP could stop attacking the symptoms of the black-white education gap and treat the disease. It is generally recognized that regardless of race, family environment is the most important factor in poor performance. It could direct its organizational and financial assents toward the root cause of the education gap, the abysmal condition of the inner city black family.
It has infrastructure to do this. The NAACP has 91 affiliates countrywide. The money is there. This year Wachovia gave the NAACP a $1-million grant and last year, Microsoft granted it $670,000 in cash and software.
Should the NAACP adopt the inner city black family as its cause and if it would cease its shrill verbal assault on the white community as the source of all black woes (Adora Obi Nweze's comparing Education Commissioner Horne to George Wallace is typical) it's a good bet that the white community would join in.
It's hard to be optimistic. Given Ms. Nweze's kind of leadership, the NAACP will be a relic of the past long before the black-white education gap has been narrowed.
Howard Troxler's Aug. 20 column A paper tiger for fake schools unfairly maligned the Department of Education's initial efforts at strengthening accountability for private schools that participate in Florida's school choice programs. These programs are among Florida's most popular education initiatives because they give disadvantaged students throughout the state opportunities that are otherwise beyond their reach.
As Troxler points out, the Department of Education sworn compliance form, which participating private schools must complete, is thorough. In fact, the form was designed to provide the department with pertinent information about a school's compliance with applicable state law. The information will be readily available to parents on the department's Web site.
Troxler's assertion that there is "no plan" to check the information supplied by schools is ridiculous. The department's sworn compliance form is just that - a school representative's sworn testimony verifying compliance. Further, the Department of Education may check up on a school at any time to verify information it has provided, and intends to investigate any school involved in a complaint.
The columnist was even further off the mark when he said that the governor and I are trying to "fend off" the implementation of further accountability measures by the Senate. To the contrary, Gov. Bush and the Department of Education are working on proposed legislation to increase accountability, not just among participating schools, but at all levels.
Increased accountability, like quarterly financial reporting and background checks for scholarship funding organization administrators, will help ensure that students receive the education they deserve. Perhaps then Florida's school choice programs will receive the praise that most Floridians know they deserve.
Re: Byrd wants voters to revisit class size, Aug. 29.
I am outraged. Florida voters passed the class size amendment. I do not recall there being a clause in the amendment that said "open for negotiation" if it's too hard to accomplish. Lawmakers need to concentrate on what needs to be done instead of trying to wangle out of everything that requires work. I don't recall our lawmakers having the option for a "do over," so let them just get to work and do their job. Or maybe the next time they are voted in office, we can have a negotiation clause.
What have you done to the comics? They were best part of the Times; each morning they made my day! Now they are all stirred up with dumb new ones usurping the spaces of my favorite classics: Shoe, Hagar and Peanuts relegated to the inside back page, postage stamp-size and in black and white, yet!
Horrors! If you wanted to change things around, you could have put Doonesbury on the editorial page where it belongs, or better still, eliminate it altogether. Please put the comics back the way they were!
I have to write and tell you how pleased I am that you have included more comics in the Times. I think you have made a good choice and I thank you.
Re: Snuffy Smith.
Great balls o' fire! What have you flatland touristers done? No more Snuffy Smith! Please put him back. Times a-wastin'.
I've enjoyed Barney Google and now Snuffy for 71 years! (I think I learned to read when I was 6.)
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