Florida Teachers Chatboard

Ex-Teacher On 6/13/13, Deanna wrote:

> Well, it looks like the magic is coming off the "Charter

> School Brave New World" Imagine is part of a national chain

> that supporters think is an answer from God...they must

> have pixie dust that makes children learn! magine Charter

> School in St. Petersbu...See More

Jun 21, 2013

Privatizing Education 4 profit

by Joanne

Jun 15, 2013

Today you see the strong efforts to privatize education so public schools will become dead. They will lower standards to a GED OR HS DIPLOMA as fewer and fewer people will go into teaching from Universities. Jeb Bush had a program of Troops to Teachers...a college degree was not required. My sister says that Gov Perry has reduced standards to GED o...See More

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Scooby Also remember that PRIVATIZING education takes financial burdens off the backs of states and municipalities that have to deal with unions, pensions, salaries, etc....Privatizing education puts all of those burdens on the corporations that run the schools. The only trouble is, the taxpayers' monies are spent without accountability, the corporations ...See More

Aug 7, 2013

Bill T (now retired) On 8/07/13, Scooby wrote: > Also remember that PRIVATIZING education takes financial burdens > off the backs of states and municipalities that have to deal with > unions, pensions, salaries, etc....Privatizing education puts all > of those burdens on the corporations that run the schools. The > only trouble is, the taxpayers' monies ...See MoreOn 8/07/13, Scooby wrote: > Also remember that PRIVATIZING education takes financial burdens > off the backs of states and municipalities that have to deal with > unions, pensions, salaries, etc....Privatizing education puts all > of those burdens on the corporations that run the schools. The > only trouble is, the taxpayers' monies are spent without > accountability, the corporations make big profits at student's > expense, and eventually, the charters fail due to a lack of > accountability and corruption. Our students, who are our country's > future, become the big losers in the end. BTW, all of you DID > notice that Mr. Tony Bennett is NO longer our state super of ed, > right? His charter school shenanigans in Indiana finally caught > up with him! His actions in Indiana should be another nail in the > coffin of charter schools, but it gets swept under the carpet and > under-reported by the media in FL.

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Good points, Scooby....

we're headed in the same direction Florida has gone, here in North Carolina, thanks to some "initiatives" established by our legislature. And yes, you're right, the children of our state will be the losers in the end. Corporations are interested, mainly, in ONE thing - profit. Children will hardly be their focus or priority.... > > > > > > > > > > > > On 7/28/13, anon wrote: > >> Yes, Gates is. He's a robber baron. There are lots and > lots of > >> these now, and they are dictating education policy and have > >> bought off our politicians, including and especially Barack > >> Obama. > >> > >> Gates and Broad are the puppetmasters of national education > >> policy. > >> > >> > >> On 7/28/13, PBX wrote: > >>> True and I agree. > >>> > >>> Slavery was thrust upon this country since its beginnings > >>> until 1863 (officially). Now the powers that be are trying > >>> it again, except this time they are using a more methodical > >>> and slower approach. I'm sure you have thought of this > >>> notion that if the masses are placed in low paying > >>> (corporate) jobs, will these same workers be able to > >>> purchase what they produce? The rich and elite cannot buy > >>> everything and therefore keep all of their buddies > >>> companies profitable. This same issue has been occurring > >>> through time and this is a cycle of history repeating > >>> itself. Have we really learned anything from the past? Look > >>> at Carnegie and Rockefeller. Those guys were ruthless. Is > >>> Gates a modern day Carnegie or Rockefeller? > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> On 7/28/13, anon wrote: > >>> > >>>> Tell that to Gates and company. They are putting in > >>> > >>>> CCSS, much of which is > >>> > >>>> developmentally inappropriate for the particular grade > >>> > >>>> level because they want to track kids as early as > >>> > >>>> pre-school into poorly-paid employment and limit upward > >>> > >>>> mobility by cutting off higher education to the masses > >>> > >>>> ("higher education" is high school and > >>> > >>>> above). > >>> > >>>> > >>> > >>>> This is the neoliberal script in action. They believe > >>> > >>>> education is a waste of money because most adults won't > >>> > >>>> be working in any jobs requiring anything beyond middle > >>> > >>>> school, and therefore spending money on teachers is a > >>> > >>>> waste of money as well. > >>> > >>>> > >>> > >>>> Outfits like the World Bank have said as much. This > >>> > >>>> attitude is coming to the U.S., and it is killing this > >>> > >>>> country. > >>> > >>>> > >>> > >>>> > >>> > >>>> > >>> > >>>> On 7/27/13, PBX wrote: > >>> > >>>>> In reality, you are not slotted for life, but are > >>> > >>>>> prepared for a running start. One can always return > >>> > >>>>> to school for further training. You are also entitled > >>> > >>>>> to your opinion as well. I do not believe the job > >>> > >>>>> training or college prep system to be horrible, but > >>> > >>>>> as an opportunity or to gain a sense of direction (of > >>> > >>>>> sorts). In this country, we need to look at other > >>> > >>>>> options that will give a better return on investment. > >>> > >>>>> A final point is that the average "Joe" > >>> > >>>>> better recognize that education provides a path to > >>> > >>>>> opportunity, and to appreciate and take advantage of > >>> > >>>>> this opportunity before it is eliminated as we know > >>> > >>>>> it. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>> On 7/26/13, anon wrote: > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> Being slotted into a job for the rest of one's life > >>> > >>>>>> at the age of 14 is > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> an outrage. Sorry, it is. I am glad it would never > >>> > >>>>>> fly here in this > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> country, which is founded on equality of > >>> > >>>>>> opportunity which includes > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> higher education. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> That is a caste system and it is horrible. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> Gates and company are trying that crap > >>> > >>>>>> here--college for the rich, low- > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> wage destitution for everybody else. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>> On 7/26/13, pw wrote: > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> I taught in Amsterdam, Holland and by 14 students > >>> > >>>>>>> need to make a > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> career decision and then they are put in a school > >>> > >>>>>>> that teaches that > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> skill by the time they are 17 they are ready to > >>> > >>>>>>> work. That would > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> never happen in the US as this is the most > >>> > >>>>>>> conservative nation in > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> the western world and mostly we decide to > >>> > >>>>>>> maintain the status quo. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> The Amsterdam program would be great in the inner > >>> > >>>>>>> city but it never > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> going to happen > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>> On 7/26/13, PBX wrote: > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> On one hand, you are absolutely right. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> On the other, there are so many unmotivated, > >>> > >>>>>>>> lazy, apathetic, > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> entitled students (and their parents) who do > >>> > >>>>>>>> not see education as > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> a privilege, but rather than as a right. They > >>> > >>>>>>>> have no sense of > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> appreciation of the opportunity being put > >>> > >>>>>>>> before them at taxpayer > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> expense. I say let students drop out after > >>> > >>>>>>>> eighth grade, opt for > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> vocational training or college prep. But > >>> > >>>>>>>> forcing students to be > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> at school is not working. Think of the money > >>> > >>>>>>>> that could be saved > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> if this were implemented. Students would > >>> > >>>>>>>> quickly figure out that > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> it is no longer play time. We, as a nation, > >>> > >>>>>>>> have to quickly > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> decide how to prepare our youth to function in > >>> > >>>>>>>> job market. The > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> system that is currently in place is antiquated > >>> > >>>>>>>> and obsolete. So > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> it is not necessarily the dream of the > >>> > >>>>>>>> neoliberals, but also the > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> typical American citizen who takes education as > >>> > >>>>>>>> an entitlement, > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> and not as a privilege. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> On 6/15/13, anon wrote: > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> It'll be worse than that: Nobody other than > >>> > >>>>>>>>> the kids of the > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> rich will be allowed ANY education beyond > >>> > >>>>>>>>> middle school. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> This has been the dream of the neoliberals, > >>> > >>>>>>>>> who regard > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> education as nothing but job training and > >>> > >>>>>>>>> largely a waste of > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> money. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> It needs to be fought tooth and nail. Our > >>> > >>>>>>>>> very society is at > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> risk. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>> On 6/15/13, Joanne wrote: > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> Today you see the strong efforts to > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> privatize education so > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> public schools will become dead. They will > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> lower standards > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> to a GED OR HS DIPLOMA as fewer and fewer > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> people will go > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> into teaching from Universities. Jeb Bush > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> had a program of > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> Troops to Teachers...a college degree was > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> not required. My > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> sister says that Gov Perry has reduced > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> standards to GED or > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> HS in Texas Charter Schools. No teacher > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> today should let > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> their daughter or son major in Education > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> anymore. They > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> should be made to change their major with > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> the new school > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>>>> year. > >>> > >>>>> > >>> > >>>>>>>> > >>> > >>>>> > >>> >

Aug 10, 2013

More Than 850 Teachers And Staffers Handed PinkSlips

by Chgo

Jun 16, 2013

Don't come to Chicago...the Charters are happening so they closed all kinds of schools, these tchr will be working at Kmart or walmart or as subs.

Does anyone know when 2013 school grades will be released?

by Scooby

Jul 11, 2013

Once again, while we teachers work like H*ll all year long to prepare our 'darlings' for the FCAT and EOC exams, we are forced to wait for our school grades and evaluations. At this rate, we won't know anything until Christmas break.

Ex-teacher On 7/11/13, Scooby wrote:

> Once again, while we teachers work like H*ll all year long

> to prepare our 'darlings' for the FCAT and EOC exams, we

> are forced to wait for our school grades and evaluations.

> At this rate, we won't know anything until Christmas

> break.

Perha...See More

Jul 12, 2013

Teaching in florida or Atlanta

by Jaesha

Jul 24, 2013

I recently received an offer to teach in Florida which I am very excited about. However, I am realizing that the cost of living is very expensive there. I also applied in Atlanta but haven't received any call backs. I have however interviewed for various secretarial jobs some of which sound promising and pay the same as a teacher . Do I move to Atl...See More

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PBX As long as school systems can be sued and people are in fear of their positions, there will be more Rachel Jeantel's produced by the system. She should have never been allowed to graduate from high school (providing that she did). That is one of the major problems of public education today. If they (the students) want to quit after eight grade, let...See More

Jul 27, 2013

elective Though she is 19, she is still in high school.

On 7/27/13, PBX wrote: > As long as school systems can be sued and people are in fear of their > positions, there will be more Rachel Jeantel's produced by the system. > She should have never been allowed to graduate from high school > (providing that she did). That is one of the...See More

Jul 29, 2013

Scott hired Bennett...a crook...Education Commissioner

by Jill

Jul 30, 2013

A former Indiana school superintendent frantically overhauled a school grading system to ensure a Republican donor’s charter school received an “A” grade.

Emails obtained by the Associated Press showed that former Indiana schools chief Tony Bennett, a Republican, insisted that a new school grading system must give the Christel House...See MoreA former Indiana school superintendent frantically overhauled a school grading system to ensure a Republican donor’s charter school received an “A” grade.

Emails obtained by the Associated Press showed that former Indiana schools chief Tony Bennett, a Republican, insisted that a new school grading system must give the Christel House Academy charter school top marks.

The Indianapolis charter school was run by Christel DeHaan, who has given more than $2.8 million to Republicans since 1998, according to the Associated Press. Bennett had received $130,000 from DeHaan.

Bennett had promised to hold “failing” schools accountable by implementing the new statewide A-F school grading system. The new grading system had initially given Christel House a “C” grade, because of the school’s poor test scores in algebra.

“This will be a HUGE problem for us,” Bennett wrote in a Sept. 12, 2012 email.

At the urging of Bennett, the grading system was quickly altered so that Christel House ended up with an “A” grade.

Bennett told the Associated Press that he wasn’t trying to tilt the system in favor of Christel House because of DeHaan’s contributions. He said Christel House was a top-performing school and its “C” grade indicated the grading system was flawed.

Bennett is currently serving as Florida’s education commissioner.

“You can judge Rick Scott by the kind of people he hires. Scott hand-picked Jennifer Carrol to be his running mate in 2010, but was forced to ask for her resignation after repeated scandals. Scott hired his long-time ally David Wilkins to run the Dept. of Children and Families, only to have him forced out by months of scandal and tragedy,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant said in a statement.

“And now we have found out that Education Commissioner Tony Bennett tried to bend the rules for an influential donor at his last job. If a teacher tried to fake a grade like that, she’d be fired. Floridians deserve answers. Is Bennett up to his usual tricks, doing favors for GOP donors? How can we trust Florida’s school grades — already the product of political manipulation — with Tony Bennett in charge?”

Running application past the superintendant in small county?

by Jennifer

Aug 1, 2013

I applied for a position and they said they really want to hire me. They talked to some references and then said they will offer me the job after they run it past the superintendent?

What does that mean? Does anyone know?

Debbie On 8/01/13, Jennifer wrote:

> I applied for a position and they said they really want to

> hire me. They talked to some references and then said they

> will offer me the job after they run it past the

> superintendent?

>

> What does that mean? Does anyone know?

Do...See More

Aug 3, 2013

Bennett resigns- don't send him back!

by retired

Aug 1, 2013

He belongs to Florida now. You get to keep him.

Jill On 8/01/13, retired wrote: > He belongs to Florida now. You get to keep him.

_____________________________________________ Yes, he has a big supply of magic pixie dust used in Charter Schools to be sprinkled on the shoulders of children as the walk in the door that makes them perform in a superior fashion and have perfect behavior plus ...See More

Aug 2, 2013

volusia county????

by Bill

Aug 1, 2013

what's it like????

Volusia county teaching positions

by Dee

Aug 18, 2013

I am a para working for Volusia County schools. I have applied for several teaching positions but have not had one response. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? What are some of the interview questions that I will be asked?

Thanks!!