Naples--ANYthing positive? (Christmas: debt, showing, vacation)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by novanative75

You say that Florida ranked 12th in accountability and then you go on to say that it was one of the 'few National School Districts that did not lower its standards'. What district in Florida are you talking about? As you pointed out, there are several 'districts' in Florida, that statement does not make sense.

I was talking about Sunshine State Standards, which are what are supposed to be taught in every classroom. Every state has some kind of set ACADEMIC standard and Florida did not lower theirs while other states did so their schools could make "adequate yearly progress" as defined by NCLB. In other words, Florida is holding their schools accountable to improve instead of loosening the standards to make them look good. While the whole No Child Left Behind Act thing is mostly nonsense, Florida does seem to be absorbing the good aspects of it better than other states despite other challenges.

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

I was talking about Sunshine State Standards, which are what are supposed to be taught in every classroom. Every state has some kind of set standard and Florida did not lower them.

Ah, SSS. Yes, hardly anything I would use to judge the state of education here on. If we have come to judging our schools based on their reliance on standardized tests (which, at the end of the day is really what SSS are all about), THAT is a sad day.

I have attended several meetings at the administrative center lately about different topics and even those high up are laughing at hole that we are in education-wise in this county.

Education is my passion and I have NEVER, in all my years of working in the field, in several states, seen anything like this.

[compelled to reply]

Hmm, well I don't know anything about Collier schools but I'm not surprised to hear about the mess. I think that's typical to retiree dominated areas.

I also expanded upon my post. I agree the test is mostly a joke, but to my amazement there are 48 other states that are even bigger jokes, considering that's pretty much all America's students are absorbing. These tests are basic skills tests, meaning Florida is actually expecting it's students to know more basics than all but 11 other states. America's public schools are in a sorry state in general now...

[ChrisA70]

I have a positive thing about Naples... They have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe!!! None here yet, that's my positive.

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Hmm, well I don't know anything about Collier schools but I'm not surprised to hear about the mess. I think that's typical to retiree dominated areas.

I also expanded upon my post. I agree the test is mostly a joke, but to my amazement there are 48 other states that are even bigger jokes, considering that's pretty much all America's students are absorbing. These tests are basic skills tests, meaning Florida is actually expecting it's students to know more basics than all but 11 other states. America's public schools are in a sorry state in general now...

They are 'expecting' the students to know more basics but do they actually know more? The short answer to that is NO!
I agree, America's schools are in a sorry state however, I was in Northern Virginia working in Fairfax County Public Schools and there was a lot of good going on there. You could not pay me to send my kids to school here in Collier County but rabid dogs could not keep me from sending my kids to Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.
The problem here is budget and the lack of the administration's interest in putting the money they do have to good use.

Do you know that in Florida, if you have a degree in education, any kind of education, and you take a 45 minute test in any subject and pass, you can teach that subject????? For example, I have a Masters of Education in Counseling with a guidance endorsement and if I take a middle grades math test and pass, I can teach middle school math and I have NO training as a teacher and have never taken a teaching course in my life. Can you fricking believe that?????

[novanative75]

Originally Posted by BacktoFLigo

I have a positive thing about Naples... They have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe!!! None here yet, that's my positive.

We have two Planet Smoothies too! We may have an overabundance of undereducated kids but we got good smoothies!!

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by novanative75

They are 'expecting' the students to know more basics but do they actually know more? The short answer to that is NO!
I agree, America's schools are in a sorry state however, I was in Northern Virginia working in Fairfax County Public Schools and there was a lot of good going on there. You could not pay me to send my kids to school here in Collier County but rabid dogs could not keep me from sending my kids to Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.
The problem here is budget and the lack of the administration's interest in putting the money they do have to good use.

Do you know that in Florida, if you have a degree in education, any kind of education, and you take a 45 minute test in any subject and pass, you can teach that subject????? For example, I have a Masters of Education in Counseling with a guidance endorsement and if I take a middle grades math test and pass, I can teach middle school math and I have NO training as a teacher and have never taken a teaching course in my life. Can you fricking believe that?????

Fairfax schools are known all over the country for their excellence. Also like I was saying, consider the demographics of Fairfax County. Mostly young affluent families. Florida has individual cities with that kind of thing but not whole counties.

I know about the test, don't they put them in there as "emergency qualified" teachers? Most states will do that, and Florida actually has a relatively low percentage of those (7%). Not sure about Collier but you can find out on GreatSchools.net.

[121804]

Originally Posted by novanative75

Do you know that in Florida, if you have a degree in education, any kind of education, and you take a 45 minute test in any subject and pass, you can teach that subject????? For example, I have a Masters of Education in Counseling with a guidance endorsement and if I take a middle grades math test and pass, I can teach middle school math and I have NO training as a teacher and have never taken a teaching course in my life. Can you fricking believe that?????

You've got to be kidding me. This is allowed in the public schools?

I'm certified 7-12/history (MaEd in instructional tech SAHM now still paying off that debt!!) & could never in my wildest dreams imagine teaching, let's say, 4th grade science.

Ahh..The plight of public school education. It is even more intensified in areas such as Collier that is primarily retiree.

[121804]

Originally Posted by BacktoFLigo

I have a positive thing about Naples... They have a Tropical Smoothie Cafe!!! None here yet, that's my positive.

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude, you are SO getting a positive rep for noting that

Maybe open one up in CC?

[ChrisA70]

Originally Posted by 121804

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude, you are SO getting a positive rep for noting that

Maybe open one up in CC?

I wish, they are hands down the BEST!!!!!