How Incredibly Sad - Florida Residents Don't Care About Education
 

Well Bill McBride just lost the race for governor with an approx. 42% to 57% loss against Jeb Bush. He was promising lower class sizes and higher wages for teachers (who make about $20k a year) because our state is almost dead last in education (and in some aspects actually is). Jeb continuously said that he's improved education, and as a Florida education graduate from last year, I can tell you that the last four years I've only seen less and less money go to the public schools. It's really disturbing when we have a State Amendment to vote on reducing class sizes and the polls read 51% yes, 49% no. This is obvious that half the state is a bunch of money-grubbing misers who have no interest in student education and this country's future...and if one thinks that the classes aren't that big? I remember sharing desks and not being assigned books because there weren't enough for everyone while I was in high school. And I have to sit here and watch as our beloved Florida Bright Futures program, that gives unlimited amounts of 100% and 75% scholarships to the students who graduate with the qualifications, becomes of less and less importance (they've already limited the semesters it can be used on, now theyve added another group of requirements last year, and the state has been looking at phasing it out for the past year now). It's rediculous that I have to stereo type this state as old people who want to keep their money because they aren't directly related to schools. In fact, there are plenty of elderly Florida residents that wish to not have to pay those txes which go to education becuase of this lack of a direct link.

It just disgusts me that people can be like this. It's sad that a state would swim in its own ignorance to save a buck. I just hope that people didn't even consider voting for Jeb based on the fact that his brother, Mr. President, helped in his campaigning - but of course they did.

This state is going to go further down the tubes because 57% of the residents don't have children in the public school system.

What a joke.

Had to vent.

-Jonathon

It's really no suprise. The quality of education is going down everywhere and no one seems to care.

It's not just here, man... it really is everywhere!

I must say though Palm beach county just passed a huge school renovation/ new school bill recently!
There are new schools popping up all over the place and they are tearing down all the old ones and building new HUGE ones in their places... this is a very good thing.

Yeah, I've found that the problem has been seen to county by county. But not all counties want to see it fixed! I went to a tri-county public school in Charlotte county. Kids from Sarasota (like me), Charlotte, and Lee counties all went to this high school. Sarasota decided to raise their property taxes to help out their public schools. Even though I lived in Sarasota county, the school that I went to (nearest) was in Charlotte. So the school didn't see a penny of the money. And Charlotte county is so poor and filled with elderly that that school depends on the local contributors - where most of our scholarships come from (it's a good community, so the school is lucky). But anything on a state level, like Bright Futures is being pushed further and further away when that is a HUGE reason for kids being able to afford college. I know of dozens I graduated with that wouldn't have been able to afford college without it. Yet they overspend on FCAT testing, which I can tell you is a like taking a test to skip the 2nd grade! It's such a rediculous way of saying "Florida Achievement is High" so "Way to go Jeb!". Ugh. The millions overspent into FCAT could be used elsewhere. I could have sworn that we also had a lot of income for the schools through the lottery, now it seems to be going other places. I just can't believe that Jeb was reelected because just over half the state has no personal connection to education. I'm still sickened by it. But you're right Joe. It's a really good thing to see certain counties trying to find ways to help their schools because the state does squat.

If it's a "county by county" issue, don't take it out on the Governor. Hell, I would GLADLY trade you ours for yours!

Besides, Florida is lucky they got to vote at all. They already had two strikes...

:D

Take care,
ÅChris

Chris, the thing is, it isn't supposed to be a county thing. But the counties that care about education are realizing that the governor has no interest in spending towards education, so they pass local laws to raise their taxes by 1 or 2 cents to give money to the schools. The only reason Jeb was reelected is because a little over half the state either loves his brother, believed his negative ad campaign or just dont want to use their money for education (even though the only tax increase was going to be a cigarette tax). I just can't believe that a good majority of the elderly in this state whine and complain about the juvenile delinquints but don't want to give up a few cents to see us become better educated people. "I'm not giving those good for nothing kids any of my money!" is how a good majority of the elderly feel; but it's because of this lack of funds that more and more kids become less and less educated and more geared towards doing illegal stuff (not like some of it isn't kids being kids though). Still a pity. And I hope now that he's promised to work on education, again, that he will actually do so.

Good God !!!!! So you think putting a liberal democrat in there is gonna solve all those problems ??? Like Chris said you better come out here and take a look at our Governer !! If we were a foreign country we would have something like the 6th largest economy on Earth ! and our schools suuuuuuuuuuuuck !!! Go back to the socialist professor thats feeding you that BULL**** and ask him to tell you how much your state collects. Not Just sales tax or cig tax or gas tax or state income tax or lic fees or permit fees or parking fees or any one of the other zillion forms of revenue they take in either. There isn't a state in this union controled by a democrat or a republican that isn't taking in enough revenue to fund any dam thing it needs ... its the way its being spent !! Maybe you should listen to some of those "old people" you talk about ...they didn't get enough money to retire on by being a bunch of stupid old foggies that don't have enough sense to pour pi** out of a boot !!
As far as people only putting Jeb Bush in there because of his brother ?? Don't kid yourself young man, people are alot smarter than you give them credit for ... but that is a typical liberal attitude ... we're so dumb we shouldn't be allowed to vote ... just let the government decide for us, because after all they are much smarter and wiser then we are right ???
Ok see there ... I can vent too ! :D

Are you sure that maybe your school situation is like californias? california has passed so many damn bonds that they should have ALOT of money for the schools. For some reason though the money doesnt seem to end up in the schools. Thats why i voted down new bonds for schools. There seems to be more damn bonds every year.

And the governor is not the only person you need to argue about the education problem with. I think the Superintendant of the Schoolboard has some say in those matters too.

Oh and BTW down with Liberals :mad:

actually....i didnt get any of that information from someone else's influence. I've pulled all my information from being involved in the florida school system for a number of years...I, myself, have no political party preference...i go based on what the people want to do...and my opininons tend to jump back and forth from rep to dem....so the party means nothing...bill mcbride was just going to take the state's budget and take a little from everywhere to add a little to education....and use the cig tax too....

..and there are plenty of die hard republicans (and I know many parents and other people personally like this) that would vote for the republican just because of the party affiliation...they would just rather see a rep. in office than vote on the issues...these are the types of people that see that jeb is george w.'s brother and like that fact too....gwb helped in jeb's campainging, so you cant tell me that that had no effect on the voters....

no need for venting...i just prefer to see people taking interest in important issues....and almost half of florida does...thats why mcbride, who has no political history, got 43% of the vote!....so obviously hes doing something right....

Absolutely ! and Democrats do it too ! and i don't understand why thats such a mystery ?? You can certainly generalize about what those two parties stand for. In general Democrats believe in taxing peoples wealth then redistributing it via social programs. Taken a little further where the government takes all your income and redistributes it as it sees fit you have socialism.. a system that has been shown time and again to be a dismal faliure. Republicans on the other hand believe that people should keep more of their wealth and spend it as they see fit, feeling that they will start businesses which will create jobs, and they will spend money on products and the wealth will be distributed that way ... thats free enterprise, a system thats built the strongest most properous nation in the history of the world. I realize thats a generalization but when i see a republican and a democrat on a ballot and don't know much about them, yes i'll look at the party affiliation and say ok i pretty much know what the democrat stands for and i pretty much know what the republican stands for and i'll proceed to vote along party lines ? Why is that such a mystery ? I may not know the specifics but i sure know the basic beliefs. You can argue my points about whether republicans or democrats stand for the way the world should be ... people do it all day long every day ! lol but you gotta admit you pretty much know the differences between the beliefs of a democrat and a republican so, yes, you can make a generalization and vote for Jeb Bush just because hes a republican or for Bill McBride just because hes a democrat, you shouldn't !! but you can, and be fairly sure your voting for someone who shares your beliefs.
and JJ don't take it personally ... like most people i'm passionate about politics, I debate with my own dad all the time .. I've always felt debate teaches better than anything else because you usually hear the extremes of both sides of the arguement.
So remember ... I love you man !! :D

is the kind of love a man has for a woman, or the kind a man has for a fine cigar? (simpsons...lol)

...i know i know...they basically stand for what they stand for...but its still rough when you see kids (who obviously cant use their own money to support their education) without enough textbooks, or enough tiem from a teacher....and without a teacher that knows enough..or is certified to teach certain classes...i dont believe in the democratic generality of split up people's incomes like you say...just a part of it towards things that ensure our future....without good education the world might as well turn into socialism...

I don't smoke pretty boy :p :D lol j/k

Why is it that the ones that voted for Bush did so based on party affiliation, and the ones that voted for McBride did so based on his political views???

Sounds a little one-sided to me.

Bro, there is more to life than funding poor kids in school. No one paid my way, and I turned out okay. Alright, bad example, but still...

While that may have been your top concern, the senior citizens were probably worried about making ends meet on their fixed income, and worried about where they were going to come up with the added expenses they will incur in order to pay the new taxes McBride would have levied in order to raise money to send poor kids to school.

I agree that school is very important, but there is no reason a kid can't get a job and go to a cc.

In my perfect world, the federal government would serve 3 purposes. It would see to it that everyone had the chance to go to school for as long as they needed, that everyone had health coverage for their entire life, and that we were protected from any outside enemy.

That's it. Everything else should be the peoples responsibility to govern over.

Whoa. I started to get political there. Screw that! We're gonna have 12' to 15' sets tomorrow!!! Gotta go wax my board!

C-ya

lol....:D

i wasnt talking about those who can work and go to cc....im talking about pre-k through high school....some high schoolers can manage work and school....and very very few of them take advanced placement classes and earn incredible schalorships to go to great universities....but thats aside form the direct point anyways....

yes..its one-sided....but i wouldnt be so anti-jeb is i hadnt been seeing the incredible decline firsthand of the florida school system....

oh well...

...and i dont smoke either, and i hate the habit...but ill take the pretty boy compliment... :D;)...