Citrus School Board Agenda: Vote on Resolution on High Stakes Testing

Please Come to Next Tuesday’s School Board Meeting on July 10^th, 2012

If you wanted to speak previously on the issue of “High Stakes Testing” but was unable to, here is another chance, tomorrow, Tuesday, July 10th.

The School Board will officially put on the agenda for next Tuesday, July 10^th, 2012 school board meeting beginning at 3:00pm, the agenda item is to consider adopting, “A RESOLUTION OPPOSING OVEREMPHASIS ON HIGH-STAKES TESTING”.  A workshop on the issue will begin at 1:00pm prior to the 3:00pm meeting but no public comment will take place until the 3:00pm meeting.

On June 14^th, 2012 the Florida School Board Association’s General Membership voted on and passed a Resolution expressing FSBA’s concerns about high stakes testing in Florida and offering recommendations to address those concerns.  (Click here to read the FSBA’s resolution)  As a member of the FSBA, I voted and support the resolution.  If you are interested in learning where I stand regarding Standardized High Stakes Testing: CLICK HERE.

My hope is that Citrus County School Board similarly on Tuesday, July 10^th, 2012 also adopt a Resolution expressing CCSB’s concerns about high stakes testing in Florida.

A School Board Workshop will begin at 1:00pm on the Resolution with a vote to adopt the Resolution at the Regular School Board meeting at 3:00pm.

I want to thank those of you that came to the June 12th school board meeting and shared your experiences. We need to still hear your stories and your opinions as they are important to be heard.  If you were unable to come to that meeting or if you’d again would like to share the meeting will begin at 3:00pm with public comment on any agenda item to begin at 3:05pm.  The meeting is in the Board Chamber at the School Board District Services Center, Located at 1007 W. Main Street, Inverness, Florida.  In order to speak you will need to fill out a “green colored” card the table as you enter the chamber.

We look forward to seeing you.

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AP: Gov. Scott wants to look at changes to FCAT

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON (Follow Brendan Farrington on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bsfarrington)
Associated Press

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Rick Scott said on Friday schools might be doing too much of a good thing when it comes to student testing and he is talking with state education officials, school superintendents and teachers about possibly changing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

The governor addressed a conference of newspaper editors from five Southern states and he defended his decision not to have Florida participate in an expansion of Medicaid under the health care overhaul recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. He also said government needs to be more transparent and Florida has job openings that can’t be filled because the state doesn’t have enough graduates with the needed degrees to fill them.

On student testing, Scott said the state received more parent complaints this year than in past years, especially about the FCAT.

“Parents and taxpayers expect measurement. We’ve got to measure, we’ve to find out who the best schools are,” Scott said. “We have to have a good measurement system but we have to make sure we don’t have too much of it.”

 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE OF STORY…

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Independence Day

When speaking about our United States’ Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence, little is often said about two of the founding fathers, John Adams and Ben Franklin. These two are known in history for many accomplishments, but without the dedication to a different way of life that these two founding fathers had, we might celebrate Independence Day differently.

John Adams fought for our nation’s independence, and in spite of the difficult battles he never wavered in his support of our nation becoming free from tyranny. Because of Adams dedication to our nation becoming free, he risked being executed for treason. He was considered a traitor to the English Crown. John Adams risked all his worthy possessions, including his own life, to see our nation become independent and free.

In 1776 as a delegate to the Continental Congress John Adams was trying to convince some of his fellow delegates that America would be better off to separate from England. This time that was not an easy task as the American Revolutionary war was in full motion, and many people were against opposing England and felt it would be better to stay part of England rather than to form its own country. Adams after much debate convinced all twelve of the delegates that becoming independent was the best course of action. In July of 1776 there was a unanimous vote to make America an independent nation by adopting the Declaration of Independence.

“I must study Politics and War that my sons may have liberty to study Mathematics and Philosophy. (12 May 1780)” ― John Adams

Ben Franklin another founding father of the Declaration of Independence and a major contributor in getting the Declaration of Independence approved and adopted by the Continental Congress. Ben Franklin’s mission was to secure France’s assistance, both financially and militarily, in America’s fight against Britain for independence. Franklin’s job while very different from Adam’s was as challenging because both men had to use their powers of persuasion to convince others that opposing Britain was in everybody’s best interest. In order to convince France to join the colonies in their fight against England, Franklin had to use skillful diplomacy, and he also had to employ the use of spies. In the end, he almost single-handedly was able to convince France to join America.

Both John Adams and Ben Franklin were two of the five people who were asked to write and consult on the Declaration of Independence. And because of their hard work and dedication to the Declaration of Independence we are able to celebrate the Fourth of July every year. It was John Adams that predicted that every year after the Declaration of Independence was signed people around the United States would celebrate with fireworks, music, toasts, speeches, etc.

In 1776 after the Declaration of Independence was signed many places in America had modest celebrations because the war was still raging on, but celebrations were held after the document was signed. The first real organized celebration was in 1777, a year after the Declaration of Independence was adopted. That celebration was one a most elaborate celebrations and had many elements that would be included in future celebrations.

… Dr. Franklin was asked at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, “…what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” Dr. Franklin responded sharply, “A Republic, if you can keep it.

(Thanks to www.IndependenceDayFun.com for providing information for this blog.)

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