Please Read This: The FCAT Is A National Embarassment - Read it in the New York Times: "Republicans who control the [Florida]Legislature and made passing the test mandatory for promotion, have been happy to ignore the educational research. So what if hundreds of studies in the last two decades have concluded that holding children back has no long-term academic benefit, that within two years retained students once again lag behind classmates and that retained students are more likely to drop out of high school."
"So what if Florida's own Department of Education issued a report in the early 1990's warning against retention: "'Research on the subject is clear. Grade level retention does not work. Further, it would be difficult to find another educational practice on which the research findings are so unequivocally negative.'"
"So what if politicians insist on ignoring history. At a public hearing last year, State Senator Anna P. Cowin called the research 'gobbledygook,' and State Senator Donald C. Sullivan called those who questioned the new policy 'the bad guys.' In this manner, Florida has set a national precedent, giving the adults who know these third graders best — their teachers and principals — absolutely no say in who will be kept back."
And "Jeb!"? "Governor Bush keeps reminding [parents] that the new policy is for their own good, even if a record number are being retained. 'That breaks my heart,' he said. 'But if we don't deal with it now, going forward there are going to be a whole lot of shattered dreams.'" More.
The Republican response to all this? It's just a "political attack on Bush" as the Florida GOP claims. See "Dump the test, thousands demand".
What A Jerk - "Gov. Bush has taken time out from his busy schedule to serve as admissions director for Suncoast High School's International Baccalaureate program. What happened to that local control of education Tallahassee talks about?"
"As The Post reported this week, the governor is concerned that a white eighth-grader might have been rejected from the Riviera Beach school's prestigious magnet program in favor a less qualified minority student. 'I am respectfully asking you to reconsider Scott Lombardo's admission,' Gov. Bush wrote to the Palm Beach County School District, seeking entrance for his new pen pal. The district should say yes -- as soon as Gov. Bush visits and personally selects the student to be kicked out in favor of Mr. Lombardo." See "The governor butts in".
"'Glades" Bill - The Miami Herald says "Mr. Bush seems to opt for symbolism over substance." And, "We understand why Gov. Jeb Bush retreated behind closed doors to sign legislation that threatens the historic federal-state agreement to clean up the Everglades. Nobody in his right mind wants to be seen in public anywhere near this irresponsible piece of work." See "Everglades betrayal".
GOP Beats Chest About Jacksonville Victory - "For months, the chairman of the Florida Democratic Party has been crowing about a couple of Demo- crat [sic] wins in mayoral races. More recently, however, his silence has been deafening. Perhaps his silence has been inspired by the overwhelming support Jacksonville voters showed for Republicans recently, which was reminiscent of the sweeping Republican victories in November."
"Foley: My sexuality is private" - "U.S. Rep. Mark Foley took the offensive Thursday to address a question he acknowledged may affect his bid to become the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate: Is he gay? The answer, Foley said, is that it's nobody's business but his own. He called the innuendo about his private life 'revolting and unforgivable,' and blamed it on Democratic activists who fear his strength as a candidate." . . .
"Ken Connor, executive director of the conservative Family Research Council, said in a recent interview that he doesn't care whether Foley is gay or not, but that his record on gay rights `represents the radical homosexual agenda, and I'm not sure that's the path our party needs to take.'" See "Foley: My sexuality is private".
Although Foley's Palm Beach district may be "unconcerned" about sex issue, wait until he starts stumping in the rest of the state. Foley will soon feel the repercussions from a a state Republican party structure built by "Jeb Bush and his amen chorus of goose-stepp[ers]". Foley's campaign is dead, though he may not know it yet.
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" - "That's the latest strategy of House Democratic Leader Doug Wiles, of St. Augustine, in his battle with House Speaker Johnnie Byrd over the powerful Plant City Republican's $650,000, taxpayer-financed public relations machine. Wiles was waiting Thursday for a response to a letter he hand-delivered to Byrd the day before that complained about a recent House mailing to 25,000 Hillsborough County school parents in which Byrd defends the House education spending plan 'I haven't heard anything, yet,' Wiles said."
"Wiles didn't merely complain about Byrd's use of taxpayer dollars to blanket the state with video-laced e-mails and constituent surveys prominently featuring Byrd's name and his conservative message. He demanded that Byrd turn over his mailing lists so the minority party can target a response."