Graduation rates in South Florida are among the lowest in the nation

[compelled to reply]

Well, I do happen to think standardized testing can be a good thing potentially if the standards good, since unlike in the past, it keeps things on the same page. It is not so much that schools have became so much worse, but it seems as if staff members at schools do not take thier jobs as seriously, maybe due to lowering student attitudes and proportionally lower teacher pay, and as if overall, the system has became outdated and overcrowded due to poor oversight in the past. Just a note however, i did not grow up here, and i am really speaking for the state of American education in general.

[BlueWillowPlate]

OTOH
Florida public high schools have a decent showing in Newsweek's list of top-rated public schools, including Jacksonville's Stanton at #2, and Tampa's H.B. Plant at #66, among others.
USA's top-rated public high schools (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/site/newsweek/ - broken link)

[doggiebus]

Just curious...do you think schools here are better or worse than they were when you were in high school? And why?[/quote]

I asked my sister who says they are worse (this coming from some that taught in are schools the best in the county)...One reason being many teachers today just don't care (I know it isn't totally the teachers fault). I met a teacher at the restaurant bar last weekend, if she is a representation of todays teachers, oh my is my sister right about the teachers today. I guess since we have lost many teachers it just seems like MDPS is taking just about anyone that gets an education degree. I guess we can't be picky when the pickings are thin. Can we.

[Strel]

You get what you pay for.

Guess where the biggest budget hit is going to land from the proposed property tax cut?

The Education budget.

How is this possible? Because Florida is full of conservative old people who don't give a crap about education -- and they vote.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Strel

You get what you pay for.

Guess where the biggest budget hit is going to land from the proposed property tax cut?

The Education budget.

How is this possible? Because Florida is full of conservative old people who don't give a crap about education -- and they vote.

I think the transportation budget is what should take the biggest hit. When was the last time you hit a pothole in Florida? Although transportation planning is poor, state-maintained roads here seem to get repaved every 3 years! Go to another state with smoother pavement! So much for "conservative", where is the government efficiency?

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by Strel

You get what you pay for.

Guess where the biggest budget hit is going to land from the proposed property tax cut?

The Education budget.

How is this possible? Because Florida is full of conservative old people who don't give a crap about education -- and they vote.

Oh they always threaten the first thing to get hit is the police, the fire department, the schools, blah, blah, blah. You know they are trying to put the slots back on the ballet so they can get that one-tenth back if and when the state cuts go in to affect. This county needs to go on a spending diet anyways, I can only imagine all the corruption that happens, maybe the diet will help solve that some.

[Strel]

The problem is, most of the smaller counties are starving for funds already.
I know, because it makes my phone ring off the hook every day.

This tax cut is going to bankrupt them, and there is a good possibility that some counties will simply turn in the keys and try to merge with adjacent, larger counties.

[CiXeL]

in LA everything works but the roads - which are full of potholes
in Miami the roads work but everything else doesnt.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Strel

The problem is, most of the smaller counties are starving for funds already.
I know, because it makes my phone ring off the hook every day.

This tax cut is going to bankrupt them, and there is a good possibility that some counties will simply turn in the keys and try to merge with adjacent, larger counties.

Why are they starving now?