All the talk about education (St. Petersburg, Spring Hill: elementary school, community college, minimum wage)

Spring Hillian · 12-22-2009, 11:14 AM

I have noticed that a couple of posters here feel that the Floirda Education system stinks. They report that kids here can't read, can't write, can't, can't can't.

Surely by now you have read that Florida now ranks #10 among states in education quality. This is not my opinion, its not the State of Florida's opnion, but is the ranking assigned by EDUCATION WEEK which is a publication for the education community.

In fact, in their report, Floirda is a B- state while NATIONAL average is C.

Three years ago Floirda was ranked No. 31, then moved to No. 14 and now 10.

Evem though Florida has one of the worst graduation rates in the country it blows away the consensus that Floridia schools are poor.

So you folks with all the negative thoughts, HA! Wrong again!

Pragmaticus · 12-22-2009, 11:27 AM

For the record, I don't have negative thought about Florida Education and never commented on it before but you are singing the same song Crist did and the 31 to 14 to 10 improvement while the numbers are correct they are found to be only half true as far as reflecting progress in the Education sector. Those numbers used different criteria and are apple to orange comparison.

The 10th ranking by itself is impressive though.

Spring Hillian · 12-22-2009, 11:43 AM

Yes, Crist said the same thing. I don't have any negative thoughts about it either, but I know a few people here do. They tell us how Florida kids are so dumb, they can't read and write or make a sentence. Yeah, Ok. Maybe it was THEIR kids they were referring to. The ones who can't get a minimum wage job in spring hill. I

clairele · 12-22-2009, 11:55 AM

Despite passing FCAT, most PHCC students need remedial courses - St. Petersburg Times

Links seem to work oddly here, title is: Despite passing FCAT, most PHCC students need remedial courses.

Only 40% of those who take the placement exams for Florida community colleges "pass" (i.e., don't need to take remedial courses). Granted this would also include adult learners, but a large chunk of those students are fresh out of high school.

I used to work in Central FL at a community college, and trust me they're not making this up. The amount of kids fresh out of high school who were in remedial classes (which means you were not prepared for college work) there was astonishing. With their math, reading and writing skills, I was amazed that someone gave these kids a diploma.

No amount of happy talk is going to convince me that Florida schools are a-OK. Maybe in some rich/well-funded communities, but not in general.

Spring Hillian · 12-22-2009, 12:03 PM

I wonder if 40 percent to the teachers who took placement exams would pass today.

I wasnt posting "Happy Talk" just facts.

annaegel · 12-22-2009, 01:37 PM

My experience with Florida schools is only comparing what my kids had in NJ. Coming down here, the elementary school my kids went to were 1 1/2 years behind. Florida schools also lacked many of the programs that NJ schools have like foreign language in elementary, dance/yoga program, good art and music programs. The school day also included 1/2 hour for lunch and 1/2 for recess, every day!

I have a daughter who is currently in 5th grade. In NJ, the 5th grade class does a big science fair every year, the call it "Invention Convention". They have many projects throughout the year and have lots of homework. My daughter has a few projects, very little homework, no foreign language program, no music or art program, recess for 15 once a week and she goes to an "A" rated school.

I have an older daughter in 8th grade (same school). She is in honors math and science. She gets hours of homework every night. I wonder, however, if her Florida honors class would be like NJ's regular classes. I don't know what the rest of the country is like. This is just my experience.

Spring Hillian · 12-22-2009, 01:37 PM

That article is a year old, the data is almost 4 years old.

Lets talk current statistics, not 2006 data.

You cant compare the current housing market to the market in 2006.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairele

Despite passing FCAT, most PHCC students need remedial courses - St. Petersburg Times

Links seem to work oddly here, title is: Despite passing FCAT, most PHCC students need remedial courses.

Only 40% of those who take the placement exams for Florida community colleges "pass" (i.e., don't need to take remedial courses). Granted this would also include adult learners, but a large chunk of those students are fresh out of high school.

I used to work in Central FL at a community college, and trust me they're not making this up. The amount of kids fresh out of high school who were in remedial classes (which means you were not prepared for college work) there was astonishing. With their math, reading and writing skills, I was amazed that someone gave these kids a diploma.

No amount of happy talk is going to convince me that Florida schools are a-OK. Maybe in some rich/well-funded communities, but not in general.

Spring Hillian · 12-22-2009, 01:39 PM

Maybe the teacher in the young child's class isn't as good as she/he could be. Have you asked the school administration why one child has no homework?

Quote:

Originally Posted by annaegel

My experience with Florida schools is only comparing what my kids had in NJ. Coming down here, the elementary school my kids went to were 1 1/2 years behind. Florida schools also lacked many of the programs that NJ schools have like foreign language in elementary, dance/yoga program, good art and music programs. The school day also included 1/2 hour for lunch and 1/2 for recess, every day!

I have a daughter who is currently in 5th grade. In NJ, the 5th grade class does a big science fair every year, the call it "Invention Convention". They have many projects throughout the year and have lots of homework. My daughter has a few projects, very little homework, no foreign language program, no music or art program, recess for 15 once a week and she goes to an "A" rated school.

I have an older daughter in 8th grade (same school). She is in honors math and science. She gets hours of homework every night. I wonder, however, if her Florida honors class be like NJ's regular classes. I don't know what the rest of the country is like. This is just my experience.

Stewabby · 12-22-2009, 02:18 PM

Does anyone have a link to the average SAT scores for Florida versus the rest of the country? That would be the true test I think.

annaegel · 12-22-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring Hillian

Maybe the teacher in the young child's class isn't as good as she/he could be. Have you asked the school administration why one child has no homework?

They are in different grades (5th and 8th). They go to a charter school in Lutz. They slowly increase the work load to prepare them for high school. My younger daughter is in the most advanced class. The other classes are far behind her class.