Numbers
Posted by Debra Baker on July 13, 2008
I just spent a week in Florida. I collected some numbers as I read the Miami Herald newspaper:
This year, 33,000 students in Florida scored at the lowest level on the reading FCAT. That’s their statewide standardized test.
About 14,000 third graders were retained last year because they failed the reading portion of the FCAT. According to state law, they can be retained for up to three years.
Broward County has spent more than $1 million this year on remedial summer reading camps for third graders.
Miami Dade Schools has a $284 million budget deficit.
Miami Dade School District finished the 2007-8 fiscal year $66.5 million over-budget and will be withdrawing $31.5 million from its “rainy day fund.”
The District also lost $22.6 million of state funding by misclassifying special-needs students.
Miami Dade School Board Attorney received a $15,000 moving package from the district in 2006. Public records show that she never moved.
In early June, Miami Dade Schools Superintendent Rudy Crew sent the union a letter informing them that teacher pay increases would be frozen in order to save the district more than $70 million.
Rudy Crew received a $41,000 bonus last year. He currently makes $315,000.
I wish that I had some insights, rather than just a sense of frustration and doom. There is so much brokenness and, of course, not just in Florida.
When will we, as a country, as human beings, begin to truly protest the state of education in this country, the inequity of our public educational systems, rather than falling back on “it’s always been this way, hasn’t it?” Rather than blaming or pointing fingers.
Who is going to be for education what Al Gore has been for global warming?
I twittered Barack Obama a few days ago and asked him to challenge John McCain to a debate about education. I am ridiculous/idealistic enough to be disappointed that I did not hear back. No kidding. Laugh at me, if you want. Of course, I am not suggesting that there would be a quick fix to complex, systematic brokenness. But, in my mind, the visions of a debate were coupled with images of editorial/opinion pages in newspapers across the country flooding with articles about education (imagine that). I had visions of honest conversation, and then, even, of some positive steps. I do not believe that anyone truly believes that having, in Florida alone, 33,000 third graders unable to read at even a basic level is good for the country. Come on.
What if Obama got 1,000 tweets/emails this week asking him to challenge McCain to a debate on education? Would Obama respond to the calls of his would-be constituents?
If nothing else, this would be an intriguing experiment, so let’s spread the word. It’s time.
http://presby.facebook.com/barackobama?q=barackobama&ref=ts
http://twitter.com/barackobama
1,000 emails? I like that number…
Let me know your thoughts.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I think that having Sen. Obama receive thousands of e-mails calling for a debate would be a terrific thing. I’m on it :-). When I was in Columbia earlier this summer for a Missouri Scholars Academy event, I found out about Ed in 08. This non-partisan organization purpose is to make sure that education is not pushed to the side during this election.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Oops–the Ed in 08 link should be:
should be When I was in Columbia earlier this summer for a <a I found out about Ed in 08.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Mel,
Thanks for commenting on my blog.
If we can get 900 baked items organized in a weekend, then 1000 emails to Obama should be a breeze. Should we start a Google Doc?
Debra
July 14th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Deb, this is so cool! I love your writing, and now it looks as if we’ll be able to read it often.
Continue with the critiques, and the call to action. You may be amazed by how many of us will follow you!
KMP
July 15th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Just a test to see if this updates in the feed. Here is an article about feeds.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Rather than you challenging Obama and McCain, let me challenge you, Ms. Baker. With your experience as a teacher, I would hope that your ideas would be more informed than either Obama’s or McCain’s. So, here’s my challenge to you:
(1) If you were in-charge of education, what five realistic changes would you make in our education system that would make things markedly better?
(2) If you were advising parents concerned about the quality of their child’s public school education, what five things would you suggest that parents raise (and demand) of their local school districts?
I hope you take the challenge and make the answers to these questions the subjects of two new posts on your blog.
Thanks.