Education in the State of Florida;

Analysis and commentary from a concerned Parent.

(or.... Why Johnny's a dumbass)

20 years ago it seemed to me as if even the dullest knives in our Scholastic drawer had a fundamental ability to form sentences, spell, and convey via pen and paper, their thoughts on the world and their place in it. Now I notice that many of the people I encounter in my life and on the "net", lack the basic ability to commit to paper in a way that I can understand... their feelings or ideas. Many cannot convey their thoughts to me verbally in any coherent manner either. I'm freakin'.... and I want to make damn sure that my kid gets a better deal than many of these people did. As the parent of a 9 (currently) year old child I find myself examining the the same educational system, which 20 years earlier attempted to pluck me from the southern "goober ooze" and plunk me down amongst the normal functioning humans that inhabit the rest of the planet.
No small task I'm certain.

Southern schools have never been known as the best institutions in which to entrust the education of our children, but it seems the situation in Florida has gotten even worse over the years. There are readily apparent reasons for this that are INSTANTLY recognizable as soon as you begin to pay attention to where your TAX DOLLARS are going.

The School Board blows all the money on their own "needs" leaving very little for the kids. The Pinellas County School Board for instance, now resides in a brand spanking new multi-million dollar office facility complete with an atrium... while the teachers scramble for enough money (often from their own less than bulging pockets) to buy the supplies needed to TEACH their classes. I have seen MANY teachers come into the Office Supply business where I hang out each day to buy PENCILS, PAPER, and even BLACKBOARDS with their own money. I sponsor a class each year at my child's elementary school and it seems that ALL classes need to be sponsored just to cover the essentials. These teachers are ecstatic to get 150 measly bucks from the local businesses for each class. My kid is lucky enough to attend one of the better schools in the area too! The children are asked to sell all manner of dorky overpriced items to people who can't afford them just so that they can earn 10 cents on the buck. Hell.... I find out what the profit on the whole box of crap is... add 50% ...give them the money... and tell them to pitch the junk. Preferably into the Atrium at the Pinellas County School Board "Bat Cave". I pay TAXES that could be spent educating people rather than paying for the "funding" of a group of opportunistic political prostitutes.
The Florida Lottery is a HUGH educational disaster that did not SUPPLEMENT the educational budget as promised, but merely REPLACED it so that the inept politicians could funnel away the money previously earmarked for education. They also conveniently fail to provide any MORE educational funding because this group of idiots and their followers like to PRETEND that the Lottery will take care of the educational budget NEXT YEAR. Every year the extra funds are diverted... the politicos lie.... and the children get bupkis. The Lottery is essentially a Tax on the people who can afford it the least. Hence money that DOES go to education comes from the poorest segment of the population. They sure as hell aren't benefiting from the "quality" schooling that their children receive.
The Atrium sheltered paper pushers have salaries that are 2-3 times what a GOOD teacher makes. The only thing we learn from THEM is that our priorities are SCREWED....er... I mean.... SKEWED. There are TOO MANY paper pushers and too FEW good teachers. What the hell are we DOING? Well all benefit from educational excellence and we all suck the BIG WIND of educational failure. And make no mistake, EACH teacher that leaves the profession to enter the ranks of the privately employed does so because of the FAILURE of the various Florida School Boards and the Florida Political Machine. I met one of my "old" teachers in a local supermarket a few months back. She had been a great influence on me and a great help to me personally in high school. She LEFT the teaching profession and now sells Office Furnishings for 3 times the money that she made TEACHING. This means she is NO LONGER HELPING and INFLUENCING our children. She is EATING better however.
Many of the idiots that reside in this state feel that since they have no school age children or have no children at all, there are no benefits to paying for the education of other people's kids. Like it's a GOOD idea to create a large group of uneducated, unskilled, unmotivated, people and then cut them loose in the world to "sink or swim". Hell... it's HARD enough to make it in this world even if you AREN'T reading at a 3RD grade level. Ignorance is more expensive than ANYTHING else. Why don't people understand this? Can you say GREED? Can you say Pet Projects? Can you say Politician?

What have we learned here kiddies?

Not a thing I'm afraid. Everything stays the same year after year. I Bitch.... I pay.... I try to teach my own child the things he will need to know to succeed in both his scholastic and personal life. I hope he gets one great Teacher before they all go off and sell furniture.

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