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Lost_Squire
Coward   Posts: 3 Registered: 23/6/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 12:25 AM |
South Florida has recently been the scene of an interesting turn of
events.
Let me just set up by saying I believe the FCAT is a wonderful thing, and
its helped infinitely with a big problem in this country and that is, of
course, students who aren’t qualified to graduate High School, but do so
anyway, by falling through the proverbial school system “cracks”.
A few weeks ago, the results to the FCAT came in. Many students where
disappointed to find they had failed, and thusly couldn’t graduate high
school. One of the schools had a massive number of its students fail the
test, and this is the school in question. You see its located in the
equivalent of an inner-city type neighborhood, and the majority of the
school is black and Hispanic. This isn’t the problem. The problem is that
the parents became enraged that there children failed, but instead of
reprimanding them, the school system had to be to blame.
Very little is asked of High school students. They have to do 3 things.
Get all of the required credits for their classes (this amounts to passing
your classes)
Pass the FCAT
Maintain a 2.0 GPA
These are not unrealistic goals for kids. I know. I just graduated.
The parents have now pretty much settled on the idea that the FCAT is
racist and biased, and this is the reason for the test being so hard. Total
bullshit. We’re talking about a test that has questions like, “Suzy bought
some apple……” then, “Raoul purchased three loaves of……” and Laquanda ate
two slices of pie….” They do not, as some parents claim, ask racially
biased questions. I never read one that asked me “Do you like being White?”
or “Who is your favorite country music singer and why?” I have to
exaggerate the nature of the questions, because it would take something
like that to equate what they claim. I’m writing all of this because, as I
speak, there are people who are screaming blood murder at the white
government and how they’ve screwed they’re children, and the Florida
legislators are such pansies they don’t have the gall to just say “Listen
miss, I hate to break it to you, but white, black, purple and green, a
bunch of kids failed that test, and its probably because the school has
been a D- minus school for years, either that or you’re a shitty parent.” I
hate nothing more when people don’t take responsibility for they’re
actions, and it really burns when it becomes an issue of race.
Don’t get me wrong, bigotry makes me so angry it hurts. When you grow up in
a city 1/3 white, 1/3 black and 1/3 Spanish, you can bet I’ve been called
just as many racial slurs as any minority. Unfortunately, certain things
have to be chocked up for what they are, be they human ignorance, a
mistake, whatever. It takes a lazy mind, and a sick one at that, to call
the power of racism and years bullshit into play, over a school dispute.
The official word is that the powers that be are looking for a “less harsh
way to present the test”, to make it easy on kids. To me that completely
defeats the purpose of the test, which is to make sure kids don’t skate by,
and that they are totally prepared to move to the next level. Hopefully
this will all end soon, but unfortunately it will most likely culminate
with a “less harsh” FCAT, also known as a much easier test, and what’s the
point of setting standards if they break like twigs once people start to
not meeting them?
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bettie_x
Extreme Fanatic   Posts: 1570 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 01:10 AM |
exactly! Making a test "less harsh" when it is DESIGNED to challenge kids
and make SURE they are prepared to graduate (or deserve to) is positively
ABSURD. Especially when it comes to minorities. Those kids could have
failed that test simply because it's in the inner city, has poor funding,
underpaid/overworked teachers, lots of criminal activity, etc. NOT because
of race. Who's to blame? Budget cuts that strip already bare bones
schools even barer every year, the "look the other way" mentality that lets
kids that need help just slip by. We already have one of the worst public
education systems in the world, and our kids can't handle it? I wanna know
WHY. WHY should we, who rank near the bottom of the world's education
scale, DUMB DOWN OUR TESTS so little timmy doesn't get his feelings hurt or
so timmy's mom doesn't feel like a failure for letting him skip classes or
not helping him on homework or not making sure he's doing his schoolwork?
I SAY TO HELL WITH SENSITIVITY. LET Timmy get his feelings hurt, LET
timmy's mommy feel like she failed her son, because NEXT time Timmy won't
want to fail and be the oldest kid in his grade. It's like giving away
"participation" trophies to every kid on field day. Why try when your
sucess won't be recognised due to the fear of lowering the self esteem of a
kid that got second, not first? GAH!
Sooooo frusterating.....I'm going to stop before I break my keyboard... ____________________
Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.
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Dense
Member   Posts: 73 Registered: 5/6/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 05:09 AM |
| the father that spears the rod does not love his child. I though high
school was a joke when I passed it sleeping, durnk/hung-over, or high
::looks ashamed::. They need this test to give them a standard to aim for. ____________________
i am a misunderstood genius... Nobody understands that i am a genius!
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Cashmere
Member  Posts: 58 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 08:22 AM |
The thing about South Florida schools is that they are not meant to
challenge students in any way. They were designed to cater to the slowest
child in any given class and thus make sure that the most people do pass.
This is why Florida has one of the worst school systems in the country
(49th, next to the worst if i remember correctly). There is also a limit to
how many grades you can move ahead, and how many years you can stay behind.
I remember going to school in South Florida, I only graduated in 2002: when
I was younger I received a C in fifth grade because I could explain long
division wihtout writing down all the steps.
I qalso believe that if an uncannily high amount of students fail a test,
then it is not entirelyt the school's fault. If students do not wish to
learn then the teachers are not being paid enough to teach them. The year
following my graduation also proved that the students in my school were
more articulate than the priincipal and that the teachers with the most
progress in their classes are being asked not to come back. There is too
much politics in the South Florida school system, I am beginning to think
it only exists to say that there is one. ____________________
"Truth is always on the move. It is always somewhere, but never in the
foreground, never on the surface."
-Franz Marc
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Abbadon
Fanatic   Posts: 499 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 01:58 PM |
Frankly I havbe absolutely no idea what is goping on in this forum, let
alone any interest in the topics inherent within it. But as I feel an apt
social narrator I feel I should comment:
Wo ho the daddyo, theres whiskey in the jar. ____________________
Light is changing to shadow, and casting a shroud over all we have known.
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Lost_Squire
Coward Posts: 3 Registered: 23/6/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 02:57 PM |
| Well it's nice to see people comment, and yeah Florida is pretty much
bottom rung in every respect. Yay for me, Florida boy born and raised! I
feel worst of all for Betty's keyboard, though. Poor thing must take so
much abuse...... ____________________
Some have known me as Squire-of-Gothos
"OF all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these 'It might have
been' "
-John Greenleaf Whittier
Between the Idea and the Reality...Falls the Shadow.
-T.S. Elliot
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Ironboots
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 893 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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 posted on 23/6/2003 at 07:33 PM |
| Why'd you change your name, squire? ____________________
Piggy's got the Conch!
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RavensSoul
Member  Posts: 63 Registered: 27/3/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 23/6/2003 at 09:42 PM |
It's sad really, but I think most school systems are really shitty like
that. I know the one around here is. My school ranks top in our state when
it comes to athletics but when it comes to education in general, we aren't
that great. And it really sucks, because it gives the kids who are willing
to learn and who want to do well and bad rep. because they come from a "
stupid " school. I personally hate it, because I'm a smart kid. I make
really good grades in school and I try really hard because I want to make a
good life for myself. I don't wanna be like my parents and have to work my
ass off every day of my life, never taking a break, just to keep my family
in the lower middle class hellhole of society. I love and respect my
parents and I respect how they work to make a good life for me and my
brother, but I don't want to be like that when I'm their age. And it's
bullshit that because of the school that I come from, I'm going to be
labeled as below average simply because my peers don't give a fuck about
the life they're going to have to live after the next 3 years go by.
And frankly, the last school I went to was more concerned with how the
appearance of the student body reflected on the quality of the school,
moreso than how the overall intelligence of the students did. When I was in
middle school, class would be interrupted so that they could do "Uniform
Checks." The teacher would stop whatever was going on, usually in the
morning or right after we changed classes, and we'd all have to stand up so
that they could make sure our shirts were tucked in and we were wearing our
belts correctly. That shit usually took a good 10 minutes of class time,
and 10 minutes is a lot when classes run only about 45 to 50 minutes. I
think the quality of our educations are jeopardized when the system is more
concerned with hour well we look than they are concerned with how well we
think. 
It's just so horrible how the people who are supposed to be preparing us
for the future have their priorities far from being in the right order.
I think of the future and I get scared because sometimes the only thing I
see is a bunch of mindless conformist drones in little khaki pants and a
polo shirt, nicely tucked in with belts exposed. And then I think that
these are the people who are gonna be running the world some day... yep,
these are the ones that are gonna have control of that little red button
that can blow us all to fuckin' Mars.. and chances are, they
won't even be able to read the sign that says " Danger, Do Not Push" But,
you never know, life as radioactive sludge might be nice. ____________________
In my eyes, to be human is not to be able to live and die, but it is to
feel pain, love, happiness, and all other things that keep our hearts from
freezing over into the bloody ice that distinguishes man from the beasts of
night.
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bettie_x
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 1570 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 29/6/2003 at 03:48 PM |
you know the funny thing is, I read an article about a school that opened
up and it had NO ATHLETICS other than P.E. Know what happened? Their
student test scores SKYROCKETED. Conflicts between students dropped.
I really hate it when people play the racial crutch. Most of the time it's
not the kids screaming racism, it's the PARENTS. The kids were probably
thinking "man this sucks, I can't believe I failed" until the get home and
momma starts telling them that it's the man keeping them down. To me,
that's child abuse. I"m not saying racism doesn't exist, I'm merely saying
that if these students are failing, part of a certain race, and that race
is predominant in the said school, and that school fails, I doubt it's a
racial issue and more like a FUNDING issue or how well the teachers are
allowed to do their JOBS. There are white ghettos too, and I'd be
interested to present their test scores next to the non-white kids "ghetto"
test scores and be like "an issue of race or an issue of funding to
properly equip our teachers to do their jobs?".
If I was part of a racial group, and found out that I get free points on
college and city job tests simply because I'm part of an "ethnic" group,
I'd be INSULTED. It's not there to help "minorities", to me it would say
that they think I'm not good/smart enough, but that they HAVE to have
someone in my color scheme I'd BE PISSED OFF. How insulting. Perhaps it's
time we REALLY tear down racial barriers, and put everyone on a level
playing field, for real. That means that if you want a job you have to be
the best out there, if you want into a certain school, you have to have
worked hard to get there. Make the test scores public so that if a school
chooses a certain skin color over another regardless of performance, we'll
know, and can do something about it.
If we really really want to end, once and for all, this social "difference"
between races (and yes it exists, as much as we don't want to admit it)
then there is work to be done on both parties. We have to stop pretending
that it doesn't exist, and we have to stop accepting/using racial "free
cards" to get what we want. If I found out that I got a job simply because
I'm white, I'd quit and let them know why. If I didn't get a job because I
am white, I'd have a right to have my say in the deal. If we're all truly
equal, then start acting like it. ____________________
Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.
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Dolorosa
Extreme Fanatic  Posts: 856 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 29/6/2003 at 08:37 PM |
They had tests in highschool?
Crap, if I had went more I probably would have noticed this...hell's
bells. ____________________
In the valley of the Goats, the Goat Fucker is King
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Lost_Squire
Coward Posts: 3 Registered: 23/6/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 1/7/2003 at 11:40 AM |
Yeah, its a shame. I mean I know that there are plenty of racist people out
there, and that they cause issues even today. Unfortunately we still have
to deal with that. But the issue is so volatile and just straight up
unpleasant, that to use it as some "pass go collect 200 dollars" card, is
shameful, disgraceful, and totally counter productive to the movement.
As for the khaki wearing drones of tommorow, I'd have to say the lack of
educational spirit is the only real problem there. Honestly I could care
less about the whole Norm vs. Prep vs. Goth B.S. because it gets us no
where, but when a school is more interested in making sure that the "evil
of individuality" is removed, and less about what schools are there for
(education!) there is obviously a problem. Uniforms are pretty bad, though.
I mean honestly, the zeal that some schools have for making evryone look
the same has an almost Hitler Youth Group feel to it, and thats pretty
spooky. For my high school, it wasn't uniforms that took away our precious
learning time, it was 25 minute morning anouncements. The problem with them
was that the students had taken the class over, in a sense, and now instead
of running informative pieces, they ran mock commercials about exspensive
rims and bling bling. I shit you not they had guys on there going
"Daaaaaaammmmmn" as a scantily clad girl walked by, a la the movie Friday,
and no one seemed think it was in any way ofensive. And you have
administrators enforcing the code of conduct rules on us, taking away our
chains and spikes, but the kids on the anouncements, flashing gang signs
and wearing Do rags (however thats spelled) was totally acceptable. So
double standards, time wasting, and hypocracy are all part of todays school
spirit.
One of these days I'm going to post a topic on school politics, its so
funny the way people act like popularity and class struggle in school means
anything. Its like what 3 or 4 years of your life until you move from
middle to high, or from high to college, and each it just starts over
again. I guess people need it to feel secure.
Oh I changed my name becasue I forgot my password for Squire-of-gothos, and
no matter how many times I try the retrieve lost password thing, I can only
get as far as the confirmation code. I get the code, enter it with my old
name to get my password back, and it sends me another confirmation code.
Its very frustrating. I even repoted it twice in the report a bug section,
but no one seems to ever follow up on those. So until an administrator
does, or the site magically pities me, I shall be Lost_Squire. But its ok,
this name is pretty cool too. ____________________
Some have known me as Squire-of-Gothos
"OF all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these 'It might
have
been' "
-John Greenleaf Whittier
Between the Idea and the Reality...Falls the Shadow.
-T.S. Elliot
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Anya
Extreme Fanatic  Posts: 656 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 1/7/2003 at 06:15 PM |
Blah. Give it time and people can fail all of school yet pass. *snicker*
I don't get it. Why do they have to keep lowering the standards? No
wonder why foreigners think a lot of Americans are stupid. Hehe. My
opinion, though.
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Anya
Extreme Fanatic Posts: 656 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
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posted on 1/7/2003 at 06:17 PM |
As for the racist statements...funny how some people will go, "It's cuz'
I'm black, isn't it?" and it was really from some error and not because of
the color of the skin. Meh. I'm rambling again.
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Squire-of-Gothos
Fanatic  Posts: 206 Registered: 1/1/2003 Status: Offline
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posted on 8/7/2003 at 02:52 PM |
| Well, I feel like this post has reached its limits. BTW, I posted it, I
just got my old name back. Anywy, a good post promotes lots of discussion,
in my honest poinion, or at least is an interesting read. Unfortunately,
this post promoted everyone agreeing with the general standpoint, which was
of course Standards are standards, practices are practices, and calling
something a "black issue" (words used by one of the parents on the latest
news report on the subject) when it, in fact, is an issue of shitty
schools, no funding, crap neighborhoods, and parents who should have ben
castrated at birth, if a bad, bad thing. One of these days i'm going to be
one of those most active members.... one day. ____________________
“The only thing that can alter the good writer is death.”
“You know that if I were reincarnated, I’d want to come back a buzzard.
Nothing hates him. He is never bothered or in danger, and he can eat
anything.”
Faulkner
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WorthlessLiar
Occasional Poster   Posts: 13 Registered: 29/6/2002 Status: Offline
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posted on 8/7/2003 at 06:57 PM |
i totally agree with all of you. as a floridian student, i was totally
suprised that anyone had trouble passing that test. some people say that
they are smart, but don't test well. to that i say "if you can't test well,
than you're not smart." I may be wrong, tho. Either way, many teachers have
complained that teaching fcat material is too much pressure, because their
jobs depend on how well they teach......HELLO! THAT IS THE WAY THAT ANY JOB
IS, YOU LOSE IT IF YOU DO NOT PERFORM TO YOUR REQUIRED STANDARDS! Either
way, some of those same teachers hide behind that opinion that while they
are teaching the fcat material, they do not have the time to teach the
material that would otherwise be part of their schedules. thus, they claim
the students graduate without a working knowledge of the class...as if the
fcat material is worthless. bastards. WHY ARE STUPID PEOPLE SO LOUD
 ____________________
"Goths were first introduced to children with the invention of Darkwing
Duck. If it weren't for his vanishing in a puff of smoke and his dark
purple cape, I wouldn't be who I am today."
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