In my opinion its bull crap. If my kids can pass it so can yours.

It is pathetic that teachers can't teach, so expectations are lowered. Too much time is spent in preparation for these tests instead of teaching the basic R's that students need to master, yet students fail and it's okay because "the Board" lowers the bar.

It's no nice to see all those lottery dollars at work contributing to our illustrious education system (Note: Sarcasm at work!) which has it's bar lowered periodically to fit the whims of board members more concerned with receiving Federal money instead of verifying the system itself works! I give teachers credit for even trying to educate these kids who have no respect for anything these days and essentially making the school system a glorified day care since most parents don't have any control at home either....if the teachers aren't teaching it's probably because no one's listening anyway...it's one big ole' playground.

It's a planned demise.......if you are interested, read for yourself.

www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/

These are actual documents gathered by a former Senior Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of Education, Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt.

For those who have children in public schools, do you have any idea what your children are doing in school??

The plain truth - students should be passing the FCAT Writes.
Let's blame this round on teachers, as well. Students are not held accountable. Many parents only want to blame the teacher for their child's misbehaviour. I have substituted in many classes, and as a parent, I am appauled at the level of learning and work in the classrooms.
More and more students are rude, disrespectful, vulgar (and that's only from the ones who are awake in a classroom). Teachers need to be allowed to teach students to think - and stop enabling the students to become lazy members of society.
If the Florida Board of Education wants to make a change, it needs to start with empowering the teachers in our educational system - stop forcing out good teachers who teach in place of babysitters.

Shame on them. What that "teaches" is that it is okay to make excuses and okay to cheat people out of a quality education.

Obviously if you knew ANYTHING about statistics, you don't drop over 50% in one year statewide. You comments that teacher's are making excuses and need to teach are ignorant...maybe a teacher taught you too.

Actually your comment on " The passing grade for Florida's standardized writing test has been lowered thanks to an emergency rule" is a misnomer since we should be stressing that the rubric used to assess these children was raised (too suddenly in my opinion). I'd like to see the press focus on why we've had to raise the bar AGAIN! At first it was a 3-then 3.5-then 4 and now this big fiasco. Heaven forbid we give credit to the 81% of fourth-graders who passed last year. That looks too good for our public schools-let's raise the bar. Now look who has egg on their face!
Most parents report that they don't remember having to do so much writing in fourth-grade. We have constantly been raising the bar in Florida. Spend time in a classroom and tell me teachers and students aren't doing a good job! They (students and teachers) are doing amazing things in school these days.

More evidence of the dumbing down of America and the failure of our schools.

Schools will do anything to keep their funding....teachers will do anything to make sure they get their bonuses. I am tired of hearing the teachers whine about no being paid high enough. If they produced results like this in a private company, they would more than likely be fired.....and the company would go out of business.

Well as a native Floridian, I think this whole effort started because of members of the GOP want to destroy Public Education. Making the FCAT hard just plays into the hands of the people. “I told you the public school system can’t do the job but my friends in the Private Sector can”. Then the schools instead of building more partnerships with parents has become MORE Bureaucratic, call the Admin offices and see if Anyone will answer the call…they will not. The Board does NOT listen to the public; they neglected the buildings so they could build new schools these three come to mind, Manatee Hi, RH Prine, Miller . We continue to elect people at all levels who “follow the party line” and attract people to live here who don’t want to pay tax because they don’t have a child in school and parents and children who lack Discipline

The United States is no longer the world leader in secondary education, according to international rankings.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development places the United States 18th among the 36 nations examined, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Maybe we should send our educational leaders to the other 17 countries to see how they educate their young. Chances are they don't have Fcat tests or let their students out of school early once a week.

Typical goverment solution, lower the score, now we look good, however the students can't write or read. This society is unbelievable--they don't have to read or write--just go to the computer or calculator. Most students can't add 8 & 8

Just so everybody knows, the teachers hands ARE tied. They are not allowed to educate, they are simply there to teach the children answers.........they do not want the kids thinking.

I was in the process of becoming an educator in Florida a decade ago......I quickly realized those in the Public schools are no longer able to actually educate. The Socratic method is long gone. I've heard this happening in many states and my high school age son confirmed it, the teachers have to teach EXACTLY what's in the books; if they veer from the info AT ALL and are caught, they get a major reprimanding. He has ONE teacher in his school who actually educates them, the rest simply teach to the book.

ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. They are standardizing the children into brain dead zombies. If you believe we need a Federal Dept of Ed, why not check the facts......since it's implementation, the students scores have fallen so far...........we used to be numero uno for schooling, not now.
By the way, for every $1.00 the Feds take from the state for Education, only .10 is returned.

STEVE, as I posted before........... THIS IS ALL BY DESIGN:

www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/

The sad thing is, most people reading this want to remain as ignorant as the kids being taught today............most won't even take a second to click on the above link.

And for all you who blame the schools and the teachers, whose children are they to educate......yours or the states?

Arnold, WAKE UP and exit the Left/Right paradigm.

People are living in a fantasy world if they don't realize we have one single party in this country.........The Big Govt party.

If you are truly paying attention to what they ACTUALLY DO and not what they say, it's quite clear..........the agenda doesn't change, regardless of what party is in charge.

Again, this had NOTHING to do with party politics, it's all by design. The REAL controllers of America want a dumbed-down society.......easier to manipulate and control.

While all of you are arguing..especially those who think they're experts because they sat in a classroom as a child...Pinellas County has always done exceptionally well on the FCAT Writing test. Even the high poverty schools have scored well.
Unfortunately we have politicians screwing with what should be taught, how it should be taught, and what should be on these tests. Politicians know nothing about education. Does anyone want a Florida representative telling their surgeons how to perform a procedure?
Anyway, for those of you who don't know how the Writing FCAT works...the children are given a writing prompt and are expected to respond by producing a 5 paragraph essay.
Florida's fourth graders (nine year olds) were given a prompt about riding a camel. Riding a CAMEL!!!! This would be a difficult task for kids living in Fairway Estates let alone the kids living along Greenwood in Clearwater who NEVER get to go anywhere or experience anything with their families.

If the kids can't pass the tests, then clearly the Education System is to blame, but what can you expect from people that are only willing to work 36 weeks a year?

Since the government cannot provide an adequate education for our children, perhaps they should GIVE THE MONEY TO THE PARENTS AND LET CAPITALISM TAKE OVER!

Thank goodness I was educated in Sarasota before all this FCAT garbage. We had teachers that cared about their students education. Mrs. Wallenda, Mr. Lechner. Mr Flynn to name a few. Where have these types of teachers gone? In the not so immortal words of Mojo Nixon "they don't teach you how to be your best, they teach you how to take a test"

Just to bring non- teachers into the reality of a fourth grade classroom...
The morning of the Writing FCAT, a friend of mine had 2 puking in the office that morning, one off his meds, a new student, and one who brought a duck in his backpack.
Then throw a camel into the mix. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

If I were Bill and Melinda Gates I would be taking back the 3 Mil they gave Hillsborough Conty Schools. It would be better spent in states like NY, Mass, Calif..etc that have higher standards for public education.

Florida is a great state for beaches just not for jobs and public education. It has always been like that. I guess it is the job of great colleges like UF, FSU,,,etc to
educate our young once they hit 18 if they can get into them.

There are too many ignorant kids from welfare parents in the state of Florida that will never pass any test you administer.Destroy the system and start over with vouchers. If the kid doesn't perform or gets into trouble he has to find another school.Once the ignorant trouble makers are out FCAT scores will improve.

From a parent’s perspective, I can relate my personal experience with my son at a public “A” school. He was placed in a classroom with young inexperienced teachers during Kindergarten and Second grade. The teachers did not know how to control him and dumped him in the office. The school system insisted on his being medicated and were in the process of placing him into a “Special” class for seriously disturbed children.

Thank God for McKay Scholarship and a wonderful therapist!

My son is now in a private school and he is no longer taking medication. He is happy doing well in school, has become more socialized with the other children and has been nominated for Student Of The Month. All of this improvement in just months after moving him to a private school in January. Why could a Private School succeed where Public School failed so miserably? ....I think you remember Ethan...

For the sake of arguement, for years now, the entire school system
has been under attack. So then, why not a different approach and privitize
the system and let the government or states do what they are supposed to do,
govern. Then boot out the teachers union, whose only goal is to defeat all those
who do agree with their ideas, and leave the teachers teach. Give incentives to good
teachers to become better teachers, and, get rid of those who do not perform. That is the way the private sector works. And, parents also have to take on more responsibilities in seeing the kids get a solid education. If not, high unemployment will be the norm.

Jim says: "If the kids can't pass, then the education system is clearly at fault, but what to you expect from people that are only willing to work 36 weeks out of a year?

If the government can't provide adequate education, then perhaps they should give the money to the parents and LET CAPITALISM TAKE OVER!"

People need to become acquainted with the criteria used to grade a FCAT Writing Assessment. I graded the NY writing test for ten years and was rather shocked at the standards considered to be a passing grade on the Florida test. I agree with Sandsman there is no consideration for syntax, punctuation, or basic grammatical rules. As long as the students address the topic and support it with relevant supporting details it is considered good writing. No paragraphs, run on sentences, spelling errors and total lack of verb tense are allowed. How do I know? I taught an additional 10 years in Florida after moving here from NY. Perhaps this years scorer based his/her assessment on what actually reflects competent writing skills. The state standards need to be revised. Those scoring the writing need to be trained in expectations and should remain on the team from year to year for the sake of consistency.

Parents come on step up here. Dont blame our teachers . I got an idea turn off the rays game at night and teach your kids something yourselves. Oh yea and try getting them a little exercise also. I see a lot of fat kids these days that start to sweat when the are sending a text. Disgrace!!!!!

Another thought. Keep lowering the standards each year, and soon,
there won't be any standard left. Lowering the standards so children can pass
is the easy way out. Why is it no one wants to bite the bullit? Reason is simple.
The Federal Government is on a mission to "dole out" so why bilte the bullit? The
government has a a way of fixing everything except for one minor thing. Nothing works.

That's right, keep the kids (and selected parents) TEXTING and I guarantee that we Americans will continue to be the educational laughing stock of the world! We are always so proud to mock third world countries because of their lack of sophistication and education, well..have a look around. We are now the ones to be mocked

There are multiple levels of blame. How many parents actually participate in their childs education? From the day many children start being inquisitive parents stick them in front of a tv, a video game, an iphone or a computer. We are making our kids lazy.

The union protects bad teachers. We should treat it like a business, paper trail them out of teaching. Most teachers are in the field because they enjoy it. If you think they are in it for the money, 39k is not worth the aggravation to deal with the politics, the parents and the lack of respect.

The perfect solution the government and states are trying so hard to.
Lower standards for everything until it works. Let's play the government game of
"Kick the can down the road." and keep on kicking...and kicking... and kicking
till their is nothing left to kick. Then what?

Public schools are a reflection of you and me ,,, of all of us. Are you comfortable with accepting mediocrity? The problem that our educational system confronts is a society that is largely disengaged. Which is easier watching the next repeat of a reality show with your child or sitting down and reading with your child, then talking about what you both just read?

I possess a passion for education, I was an educator. The art of teaching is gone, now it is replaced with "teaching for the test". No longer are educators able to teach critical thinking, diagramming a sentence, researching a topic...
I use the past tense, "I was" an educator, the state of Florida does not want educators, the state of Florida wants robots, robots that are able to regurgitate answers. There are many joys and wonders of education that will never be experienced by the students in Florida. if it is not on the FCAT, it won't be taught! Sadly that is a reality, a reality that looks us in the eyes each and everyday.

Thanks everyone for the great comments on this controversial topic. Personally, as a part-time private school teacher, it disturbs me that we continue to lower our expectations for what our children are able to achieve.

One item is being overlooked. Over the past months, milliuons and millions
of dues collected by the Teachers Union is being spent to unseat Gov. Scott Walker
of Wisconsin. This attempt will take place within a few weeks. On his agenda, is to
remove teachers who are not qualified to teach and offer an incentive to good
teachers to become better teachers. For the good of the children is the priority.
But good ideas are not allowed. So, until someone takes charge and does the right thing, the school system will continue to fail. The present system in place now
has not worked and is not working until the children are put first on the list as opposed to be in control of but one thing; the collection of union dues. This problem
is not just Florida, it is all of the states.

First off, how WONDERFUL to see SO many Floridians that actually have a clue! KUDOS!

The TEACHERS are not totally at fault. The School Board is not totally at fault. As parents, we are not totally at fault. But if you consider ALL the pieces, INCLUDING the state legislature, then we are ALL to blame!

If u teach students HOW to learn, and the basics, there is NO NEED to teach for a test!

I second the motion to check out the website http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/ - THERE is MUCH truth there!

Since I was limited by number of characters in previous post, here is a summary of MY experience with public schools in Manatee County. 2 children raised in MC schools. One was gifted (based upon TEST scores), the other smart but not gifted. Gifted child was BORED silly and dropped OUT of high school, much to his mother's dismay! Oldest son passed all tests and graduated. When he tried to enter MCC, he could NOT pass the placement tests and as such, would have been required to take remedial classes. (After graduating??????)

I could write a book but will refrain! Start at the TOP (our government) and work your way down the ladder. We are ALL to blame!

~
Since Civilization is in collapse, what is the need for schooling children?
Just teach them how to grow their own food, and close down all schools.
~

They are in the union....they don't have to perform....their jobs and benefits are protected.....why do taxpayers put up with this union bs for public employees.

I just wonder how many people commenting on this thread are actual educators.

I am an educator - an 8th grade Language Arts teacher specifically - and my approach to the FCAT is as follows: My students and I develop the skill of writing beginning with the thoughtful process of brainstorming and discussing what objectives we hope to achieve, then move to writing multiple drafts until we feel we have written precisely what we hope to express. We make considerations to audience, tone, and diction. It may take us a month or more to get to a final product but in the end we feel that the slow process of learning to write - AND TO BECOME EDUCATED IS A LONG, SLOW PROCESS - is something we should take our time to understand and work on and through. At the end of every writing assignment, rather, at the end of EVERY assignment, my students WRITE a reflection on the learning process.

I say 'we' because for the last few years of my career I have felt like we - my students, their parents, and I - are going at it alone with little to no support from the communities that surround us.

Once on the inside of this educational quagmire we currently find ourselves in, I decided the only way I could do it was to be careful about the critiques I take to heart. Most people judging have never known what it's like to be in a teacher's place. Students depend on me and parents defer to my judgement because they trust me. I know it's so hard to believe there are teachers out there worthy of the trust and respect of the families for whom they so diligently toil, but we exist.

Educating a child is not a science. If every child and every family were identical then perhaps a one-size-fits all model of education would be apt, but there is no industry in the WORLD where that is true.

For the record, teachers work in summer. My last official day to report to campus is June 13th. On June 18th, I begin my work with the National Writing Program - so I can become an even more effective writing teacher.

I will concede that not every teacher is perfect, but most teachers love and respect their children and work hard to support their schools. The teachers I have the honor to go into that building every day with work very hard to make the curriculum engaging, challenging, and fun.

We are not the problem.

Instead of teaching our kids how to take tests, how about just teaching them!
our kids no longer know how to write cursive (sign their names)...Why ?..because its not on the FCAT!

As long as federal funding is based on test scores, there will be cheating and lowering of passing grade standards. Seems every broom closet has a desk in it now and some new NEA employee who doesn't really do much is collecting a check and benefits. Let's face it. Public school is nothing more than a money making corporation and our brainwashed, Agenda 21 conditioned children are nothing more than collatoral damage. Why do you think they get so upset when your child misses a day of school, they do a warm body count each day to receive their federal funds. If they can convince you to put your child in any sort of extra program, then that's twice the amount per child per day. Ching ching ching. $$$$$

At a School Board forum, a question was posed a few years ago to the group at Harbor Hall that asked "how can an honor student in high school fail the FCATS?" The Board said that that doesn't happen - but it DOES! What is used as a grading standard in school is different than the FCATs and the FCAT questions are quite simply - stupid and full of trickery. When in fact, it should be a reflection of what the student knows - not HOW to take a test. I once wrote to Tallahassee about why they had poetry questions when kids didn't take it, and why the questions are written as "gotcha" questions instead. No answer.

Here's my take on it TO EVERYONE WHO HAS A CHILD IN HIGH SCHOOL: HAVE THEM TAKE THE ACT TEST IF THEY KEEP FAILING. THEY WILL PASS THE ACT AND THEN GET THEIR DIPLOMA! Problem: State of Florida only allows a student to use the ACT test for graduation after the student fails the FCAT several times but the law doesn't keep a student from taking the ACT anyway - it's a great precaution. My son failed every FCAT in writing and English by on to three questions but passed the math first time out (other sons passed all on the first try). Anyway, he used to throw up in the mornings leading up to FCATs. I made him take the ACT and he passed! He is now a B student in college and got an A in English, so again, as an honor student, how the heck could he fail the FCAT? It's a question only those administrators can answer - or can they?

One more thing: all this new fangled learning stuff that is thrust down our children's throats is not working. Bring back the old methods of schooling - they brought us some great intellectuals and scientists and astronauts....rote, accountability, holding a child back a grade, discipline.....lowering the passing grade is like raising a limbo stick to figure out a winner - there is no one winner that way.

There are many great educators who do educate children and do not teach to the test. It is hurtful to read these comments knowing the hours I spend on the phone with parents working as partners to develop their children into productive members of society who can think for themselves. I may only work 36 weeks a year, but I put in double time every day of those weeks as do my co-workers. We don't have all of the facts yet, and I agree the testing and lowering and raising the bar is ridiculous. The FCAT fluctuation is an insult to our profession, and it is more insulting to listen to many of you placing blame on teachers. In private schools, you get to choose your students. In business, you get to fire employees. In public education, we get to find a solution for all situations.

FCAT Scores released for Sarasota County. See which schools benefited the most from the score changes: http://patch.com/A-tx82

Brilliantly spoken, Gayle.

ALL I CAN SAY IS....spend a day in a classroom with 22 children who come from various homelife situations, and you'll say the same thing a parent volunteer said to me, "I don't know how you do this". I'm a 4th grade teacher, and I spend countless hrs each evening (weekends too) doing everything I can to bring success into my classroom. As teachers, our hands are tied. We are at the very bottom of a huge top-down institution. We are TOLD what to teach, where to be and when (to the minute), minutes to spend on each subject, what we can/can't talk about, we're even limited on when to go to the restroom. But this isn't a pity party....I LOVE WHAT I DO! I love greeting my children each morning, I love seeing the lightbulbs turn on, I love getting a hug from a child who doesn't get hugged at home. And at night, I come home to my own 3 children. I take work with me or make parent calls during their sports activities, and all because teaching is a calling...it's a sacrifice to teach other people's children. We know there are parents who don't care about supporting us. It all comes with the job. A child came to school one day last year with a sore throat and warm forehead. When I asked if he told his mom, he said his mom said, "you're going to school because I have a doctor appt and a massage today, and I can't take you with me." I had 4 students absent for 3 days after that. (continue below....)

(continued) But like I said, it all comes with the job. I challenge any of you ignorant, finger-pointers to sub for me for a week. I don't think you could do it. Yes, the whole system is out-of-whack....but get up off your sofa and do something about it, instead of whining on blogs to people who can't do anything about it either.

By the way, teachers either find a job over the summer (to pay the bills) or take courses UNPAID to better their skills. Again, don't judge until you've walked a mile in the shoes of a teacher.

As we say in the Quaker faith, "this f/Friend speaks my mind", meaning I cannot add anything that will add to it. Teachers were once respected and honored, sadly this is not the case anymore.
For those that say teachers only work X amount of days, what about the summer classes they have to take to keep up their license. There are plenty of teachers that work a second job just ro make ends meet! Not only is teaching a profession, it is a passion! Unfortunately, this passion is fading rapidly,especially when teachers are so quickly vilified.