Comments on: Corcoran Opens Fire As Becomes Florida House Speaker

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 15:28:28 +0000

REGARDING:
“When kids have zero idea of…”

I can’t say how well or poorly individual teachers did, but I well remember teachers going over all of those subjects in class after assigning readings which went over them, followed by discussion and quizzes in class.
And some classmates never bothered to read the assigned reading, never listened in class and copied off those who paid attention.

Their failures are not the teachers’ fault.
The poor students were true to their parents’ values and teachings.
“You cain’t larn me nuthin.”

You shouldn’t judge the class or teacher from the bottom of the class.

AND
“Just goes to show you being rude and disrespectful may get attention but is not the best place for negotiation and this is complex and once someone is put on the defense they take things out of context.”

It doesn’t look like he was trying to negotiate, rather to lay out his position and intention. He doesn’t want to negotiate with people there to bribe or pressure him. Maybe he will listen to folks with facts on their side. (Maybe not, he seems to have a few preconceived notions which may be off base.)

David for better legislators,
money well spent,
children well taught

By: Retired

Retired — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 06:25:40 +0000

Corcoran sounds like he is belligerently pushing his agenda for vouchers. He seems to be manipulating by saying the vouchers would save minorities and poor people. Sound like an agenda to promote businesses at taxpayers expense to me.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 23:30:05 +0000

Just goes to show you being rude and disresptful may get attention but is not the best place for negotiation and this is complex and once someone is put on the defense they take things out of context. I appreciate teachers but I think a lot should fall on the parents, A LOT!!! If Iam paying taxes for public school, I don’t think I support the voucher system. I’m not so sure about the union, probably on one hand it insures wages but does it allow for bad apples to stay?
I’ve been out of touch with the education for a while. I think standardized test are fine. I suppose Teachers are the best to speak up about this but does the union represent what all the teachers think?

By: Elijah Bell

Elijah Bell — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 23:00:30 +0000

There is a huge gap between real teachers and what is being asked of teachers in the public schools. I believe the biggest gap is the distance between Tallahassee and the individual districts. I wonder when the folks in Tallahassee decided they knew how best to teach in every district in the whole of Florida? Do they know that we are diverse and cover the entire spectrum of cultures and have different needs and desires? The kids in Okaloosa county and the kids in Gadsden county are so different and need to be taught in different ways. Not saying one way may be better but different than the other and in the end reach a goal that supports the desires of the local community. You know LOCAL CONTROL. To say a single test that the teachers didn’t compose or grade or use the results of is the real deal is a huge mistake. It seems to me that the legislators have found a way to please their big $$ givers and promote the very private schools their kids attend. There is a big problem in the halls of government dealing with education. I now will give my solution to the problem. It will take a change in the Florida constitution but it is changed all the time. My plan, do away with public education that is funded by way of taxing the public. Our present system was founded many many years ago when there was almost no other way for kids to get the education they needed and their parents wanted them to have. I also know that we would NOT let a generation of kids grow up with no education and what might develop would be a drastic change from the present system but who knows it might be just the best thing since sliced bread, as they say. We have private schools now which is mostly funded by individuals with $$$ enough to get the job done. I believe even the poorest communities would come up with a plan to get their kids the education they need. Just think how much $$$ is wasted and not accounted for and how much tax $$$ is wasted on crap like BS test, way too many admn. getting paid way too much $$ to sit in ivory towers and dictate to teachers who really know how to teach but don’t get the chance. Could go on but you get the picture.

By: Bob's Brother

Bob's Brother — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 17:57:53 +0000

When kids have zero idea of how Government works… Balance of power, Supreme Court, who is the Vice President… basic math fractions… the root causes of the Civil War, WW2 etc… Not a clue about American Revolution, Manifest Destiny, plight of the American Indian… you teachers can’t really stand there and say you’re doing your job.

By: Nancy Perry

Nancy Perry — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 15:06:18 +0000

In response to “The teachers union is fixated on halting innovation and competition in education,” Corcoran said. “They are literally trying to destroy the lives of 100,000 children. Most of them are minorities, and all of them are poor. … It is downright evil.” If they had to pass the Florida test using tax payers money then yes I would consider but PRIVATE DO NOT AND ARE NOT held to the same standards. FSA (old FCAT) no school grades, teachers do not have to be highly qualified etc. because they are a Private for profit school, yet this guy want my tax dollars to go to sending a low performing poor kid to a private school where “they can make it” due to no state accountability……oh no, not today, tomorrow, or next week. Take all the junk away and let us teach kids like we we taught. We turned out pretty good or had the opportunity to turn out good!! By taking tax payer dollars and send a kid to private/charter school does NOT remove the problem…..to each one of these brains in Tallahassee, come live a day, week, month in our (teachers) world before you dare tell me/us we don’t have the ability to teach and we are down right evil. Mr. Corcoran, Speaker of the house, you do not have a clue!! I bet you have NEVER spent a day in a public classroom, much less 24 hours with an educator. You tell me we are not doing our job because of one stupid test…..what a joke!!! I am sick and tired of hearing how sorry public education is and how we are nit teaching kids!! Last thought I believe the comment in quotes above is a racist comment!! Shame on you Speaker of the House, shame on you!! One mad momma, daughter, sister, teacher, and administrator!!