The Tampa Bay area is poised to become a statewide leader in education, state Sen. Don Gaetz told a gathering of educators and business leaders at a Wednesday luncheon hosted by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.
"The problem with school districts is that they teach what they want to teach," said Gaetz, who chairs the Senate Education Committee. "The curriculum we're offering is not based on what the business community needs."
Career and technical education was my primary platform issue when I ran for office. I have spent my entire time in office trying to get the rest of the board and the administration to understand the importance of not letting the mid-kids fall through the cracks anymore.
I am very excited to hear others saying the same thing. We are on the forefront of an exciting movement. Our community will only be better for it.
Read full SP Times article here.
20 comments:
Link to my thoughts on this one.
Bless The Blind For They Can Not See
"Unless school leaders become convinced that career preparation is at least as important as college preparation, Florida's economy and students will suffer, Gaetz said."
My God I am officially OLD. Like fashion, this notion has come around again. Isn't showing up everyday, on time, dressed appropriately and ready to work the core of entry level behaviors?
Try enforcing them at a school. Better yet, drive by a school at dismissal and witness the future workforce.
I have seen too many administrators just give up because they become overwhelmed trying to maintain order and support this doctrine. Anyone who has spent 10+ years teaching sees this. Tardy policy? The school board does NOT support it. They routinely over-rule principals. Schools have become artificial environments.
The public AND the politicians are not willing to spend the money necessary to do this. They want the task done cheap. Unfortunately it is now part of the "Florida culture".
Watch. Another response to this will be the "back-to-basics" approach since you still need them in any job.
Believe me, if I had it to do over I would have NOT gone to college or gotten a masters degree.
I would have become a plumber like my childhood friend. My own business - on my own time - and picking my customers because I'd be the best and get paid for it.
I do it at home now because my teaching salary won't permit me to write a check. No matter what I do at school or how good I do it, I get the same check as Mrs. Mediocre next door.
The system relies on this. Until state Sen. Don Gaetz and Tallahassee show their committment to changing the system ALL the way through, his speech will linger about as long as the memories of a Snoop Dog pool party.
Come to think of it: we ARE doing such a good job with athletics that we are recognized as the nation's farm team system. So maybe we just need to take their lead.
FCAT? BCAT? BBCAT? SCAT? SBCAT?
Like I said, I am officially OLD.
The problem is that removed bureaucrats and business leaders see educators as mere "units" who cannot be trusted ethically or professionally. This conclusion is absurd and contributes to the erosion of our national school system and the overall value of our public educators.
All of us have been a student at sometime; however, it does not mean we are equipped to make decisions which we believe educators cannot (who are the very people that get the education and certification and training to make these decisions).
I can balance my budget, pay my bills on time, and run cost analysis in my own house hold, but I would be a fool to think that I can understand Sarbanes Oxley and tell our CPAs what to do.
Again, teachers and other various educators are disrespected and trivialized. Forgive me; I shouldn't be so angry since this disrespect is the status quo in today's culture. I should get over it, and leave education all together. I am worth more than this, and so are many other incredibly hard working teachers.
Here is a comment I left on Eskay:
I think the key word in the statement “Education is too important to be left solely to the educators.” is ’solely’. Of course educators must shape education. However, I agree that we need to form better relationships and partnerships with the business community since they will be employing our graduates.
I will give you an example of why this is important using college instead of k-12 public education.
When my husband first sat down with counselors to map out his courses for his degree the courses in information technology were all main frame courses. Realize this was the late 80’s early 90’s and from all of the extensive research he had done prior to deciding on computers as a career he knew PC’s were the wave of the future.
Who were the professors, but old main frame programmers? Were they moving towards a course study that understood that almost every business and almost every home would have a PC? No, they were teaching what they knew and what kept them secure in their job, not what was best for the student and the community.
My husband worked with the school and put together research and a proposal and helped them to understand that they were not doing their student’s any good. They smartly shifted their focus to meet current business needs and have helped thousands of people achieve success in the field of information technology.
Our family has since bought 2 homes, many cars, and lived well on the skills my husband learned in college. That would not have been the case had he not guided his own destiny. That is our job, not the student’s.
We in public education need to be in touch with the business communities needs if we are going to ensure all children’s success. I don’t think Senator Gaetz is referring to all curriculum.
I am personally excited that more focus is being put on career and technical education. It is one of the main reasons I ran for school board.
Anonymous Jan 31 9:31PM—
As the great communicator once said, "There you go again." An(n)oy(ing), you are contributing to misinformation by jacking Eloquentmind's quote and adding things without referencing the fact. It's okay with me if you use quotes to get your point across but you owe the original author an accurate citation. Were you not paying attention that day in English when the class learned about citing other author's work? Tsk…Tsk
If perchance the original author is only restating and adding to the original quote, then I must say, "My bad." I tend to get a little testy if I even think someone is on a personal attack of a fellow teacher.
If it has been jacked without a proper citation, then what I said above still goes.
I agree that vocational prep is just as important as college prep. I can't remember when college became the Holy Grail, but we are doing our kids a serious disservice by embracing that notion. No telling how many kids we chase out of school because they can't conform to the college mold. Until we can meet the life needs of ALL our students, we're on the wrong track. If I were a parent of a student who wanted to NOT go to college, I'd be furious that my child got NO prep for a non college career and had to start over after "graduation"!If a student wishes to become a mechanic, electrician, carpenter They ALL make more than I), then training to the apprentice level should be available! Coursework should be appropriate to that end. When I was in school it was called being on a "track". What's so horrible if it gets kids ready for life? One of my students can almost make a computer stand up and dance. She's going to do just fine! Luckily for her, classes were available--4 years' worth. Most kids who choose a non college path are not so fortunate. Shame on the school system.
Originally being "college bound" was a goal because it was something our parents were denied.
It was something "special".
It was something that showed you were capable of "more".
It got you more salary, opportunity, more prestige.
That's because graduating from high school meant something. It meant having learned, retained, and demonstrated a high school level of competence.
It meant that you could earn a "living". The diploma validated your employment abilities.
Read the letters from the 1940's. Find a textbook from that time. Talk to someone who went to school then. They display a level of development that is seemingly unattainable in the present day.
As you can tell I completely agree with 8:32. We have snookered 2 generations.
Aside: Compare the handwritten lyrics of Jimi Hendrix to those of Michael Jackson.
Anonymous Feb 01 8:31PM—
Hillsborough County Public Schools, like most school districts, does have vocational education opportunities for students who prefer not to go to college. College is not the be-all end-all so I encourage you to look into some of the career education schools and programs.
You will find the lead-in Web page here.
Ms. Griffin:
Today I was told that the district is working with the College Board to standardize a core class curriculum in social studies. Every lesson plan would be developed for the teacher so all of us would teach exactly the same thing.
If that's true, you no longer need teachers. Robots will do just fine.
Many of wold like to know how you feel about this and did you even know about it?
Have you ever of tracked the "conflict of interest" disclosures that go before the board?
These are letters by school system employees that disclose that no conflict exists with employees profiting from business with the district. Eventhough the reality is that virtually every one of them clearly illustrates that (at least one) exists. This is yet another example of the choreograghed "dance" the the board meetings actually are. Of the four that will be "voted" on this Thursday, Mr. Scott Richman's letter stands out as the strongest (this year) of, "IF THAT AIN'T A CONFLICT...WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS?!"
But, alas, it will "pass" and the business with be allowed, (they always are) regardless that his own letter states "I see a few potential conflicts of interest relating to the publication of this text". He goes on to on to spell out the conflicts.
By the way, if the meetings are really unorchestrated, why can you see that signatures (on "proposed" contracts) are whited out and the agenda items state "vote to approve". After discussing the topics, can members not decide how they wish to vote? Obviously, contacts are a done deal prior to the meeting, out of the sight of the public. Also, when the HR division submits to approve changes, why is the change not clearly disclosed. For instance, postion changes "with pay change" why aren't both current and changed to pay grades listed?
Why are expensive services contracts approved without even discussion of whether or not district employees exist or are capable to perform those services? It is the rubber stamp syndrome of spending. Get some real dialogue going this meeting. Just glancing at the proposed agenda it doesn't appear possible that board members would not be outraged at a good bit of the items.
Here is a suggestion, how about a "tip line voice mail" ? This blog is only good for the techically inclined. How much could the board benefit with such a tool? I'm betting huge.
do you post every comment? if some one wants to write and asks for anonymity, will you do it?
Anonymous 8:57 PM,
Yes, there are times I have not posted comments if someone ask that I not post them and yes people can remain anonymous. April
I am unable to leave a comment from school. It is blocked by websense.
Yours is the only site I can read on blogger.com.
The limited choice is disturbing. Not like I have a lot of time but lunch is sometimes open.
I am currently watching the board meeting and want to comment on attorney Tom's statement that comments on your blog are not (never) first hand information. What an ego/ignorant man. It is first hand. Your response was brillant. You eclipsed the other members in intellect and insight and an obvious lack of willingness go go along with business as usual. I personally had a very sersious issue arise and was told that if I didn't like it I should go to professional standards. It was such an ugly situation and suggestion was offered to me in such a way that I knew in my bones that I would be stepping from the pan to fire so to speak. It is only now a year or so later that I have heard of all the sad and unjust nightmares of those that have gone on their own or have been summoned. Tom's assertion that the union representation is enough to protect members, speaks nothing to the fact that the department is a disgrace. The grievance process is a kiss of death, in this good ol network. Bravo to you for acknowledging that while some areas may be noteworthy...even superb, the very real flip side to that is that major areas are in desperate need of a voice and action. Others have said it and it is so true, you are the only true hope the people have. Like it or not Tom, this blog is the best and possibly the only avenue to get FIRSTHAND knowledge of problems onto the lap of someone who isn't afraid of taking an active role in righting wrongs and looking to real solutions and improving things. It is laughable that he and another member would say that if he had to write an apology to that teacher that spoke they might have to give one to others!? Boy if they are that resistant to an apology letter, what is the likelihood that they would be accepting to other GOOD ideas??
Cheers April!
EXPOSE SPRINGBOARD!!!!!!!!! WHAT IS IT? WHEN WILL THIS BE IMPOSED???? ON WHO???? AGAIN, EDUCATORS ARE IN THE DARK...
April, help us.
In the business world, not school board fantasy land, businesses write letters of apologizes to all offended parties in the form of class action $uit$. Memo to Candy who according to the paper dismissed your tip line idea. They work. Check out the Gradebook story from the Palm Beach Post about boundary issues and yesterdays front page Trib story referenced how Miami-Dade uses one also. Her response of "most of our principals get calls" is what got us in this mess in the first place. Principals, often with NO principles, allowed this to take place. Calls would be made, football factories were created, and the Principals made all of the calls. Beacuse of this it was taken totally out of the hands of the principals. Candy should know better.
1:29
"Her response of "most of our principals get calls" is what got us in this mess in the first place. Principals, often with NO principles, allowed this to take place. Calls would be made, football factories were created, and the Principals made all of the calls. Because of this it was taken totally out of the hands of the principals. Candy should know better."
Plant HS has re-manufactured its football program. Even Tony Dungy wanted his kid enrolled.
Considering the political climate it is unrealistic to think Candy would take on any part of that faction.
The tip line, while taking the principals out of the loop, would have to be part of an independent department adequately staffed with trained personal committed to the job. Then given the enforcement authority.
It's a great idea but until we have a change of attitudes or actual change of board members it appears highly unlikely.
Don't let 'em get you down April. You have a lot of support out here.
The suggestion was that Candy was trying to squelch April by stating that principals already handle these situations. My position is that their lack of oversight has caused it to be taken out of their hands. Of course it won't happen for the reasons stated earlier - lack of funds,committment, and authority.
Keep of the great work, April
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