FCAT  (by: A Proud Mother  -   8/6/2010)

This system of testing our children is absolutely atrocious. My child is and A-B Honor Roll student, but doesn't test well for FCAT. Should he have to be retained because he is not a good tester even if he is on the honor roll and is a model student? I think not. The State of Florida needs to do something about this systematic testing which degrades our children.

FCAT  (by: Concern mother..  -   7/18/2010)

I truly agree with you!!
I think our children deserve to be aknowledge for their work and their efforts to become well educated. There's so much stress involved with this test, it's unbelievable. This children study so hard for this test to obtain nothig but retention. Then the states wonders how come there's so many kids quitting school?.... This is the reason why, their efforts are not being counted..
I truly agree that the FCAT shoud be stopped....!

Grandmother  (by: Rusty Shackleford  -   7/18/2010)

The lottery for education funding failed a long time ago. Saddest is the fact that many teachers have to buy their own supplies with what little money they do make. Where does the lotto money actually go? Good question. I bet Ray Napper can give us a good perspective. What do you think Ray? I see those squinty-eyed lotto hags in the store every day so eager they have to scratch that twenty dollar row of tickets right on the counter, on a window, or outside on the hood of their cars. Spending what is probably their grocery money on playing dozens of number combinations. Where is that money going? I'm curious. As far as the teachers, they try. It seems to me that they are being held back from the resources that would aid them in better educating future generations while sustaining a decent lifestyle for themselves and families. Who is robbing the lottery that was promised to education? The schools were the intended benefactor, why the hell are teachers buying their own supplies? I see them in Dollar Tree spending their last dime on stuff for their students all the time.

FCAT  (by: tweenkee  -   7/18/2010)

The way it should be is the way it was set up. You have a curriculum, you teach it and at the end of the semester you have a Final-that would tell the state if the children are learning their lessons. Children now, for the most part, detest reading, why? If I was a child today and knew there was a test that if I didn't score a 3 or higher on and at the end of 13 years of school all I would receive is a certificate of attendance since the state didn't feel I regurgetated the material properly, I might just detest it too. Get back to the 3 R's and let the teachers teach!

FCAT = Segregation  (by: A dad - who really cares.  -   7/17/2010)

FCAT will continue to encourage a polarization of the public and private school sectors. Here in our county our "somewhat private" charter schools are blossoming and excelling by pulling in many of our dedicated students and higher income families as our public schools continue on a downward trend as they are being viewed by charter school parents as a permanent underclass - a group of less desirables that have no choice but to stay in public education. FCAT encourages segregation. Since districts cannot enforce families to stay in a failing inner city school, according to their zoning, the inner city schools return to an unofficial type of segregation. Before FCAT, our inner city schools were balanced in terms of racial make up. Since the FCAT and school choice, our inner city schools have returned to being neighborhood schools, only the kids from that neighborhood attend, and it just so happens, a race congregates and lives together - so we really can't call it segregated can we? We call it Title One. Now Title One is awesome - it funds the inner city school and provides them with cutting edge technology in order to avoid law suits. Public schools, that are not inner city schools, not Title One status, scrape and scrounge to find just the basics. Our charter schools have become the cool trendy thing for families who don't mind driving their children to school, volunteering in the classrooms, and don't mind dropping the occassional donation to improve the school. These families are the best of the best. Our public schools become labeled as inferior and are looked down upon by Charter School Families and home schoolers. FCAT is a disaster - it has given rise to an unequal and segregated school system. Private industry had a lot to gain by pushing FCAT - it gave rise and platform for their Charter Schools and a negative view on public schools (non-Title ones of course).

FCAT  (by: A CONCERNED GRANDMOTHER!!  -   7/16/2010)

So what else is new!! The problem arises with the state pushing this FCAT testing. Go back to teaching the good old way and forget the state testing. It is pretty strange that this state depends on pushing and stressing the children to their limits for preparation with these tests, then they fail. Doesn't say too much for the teachers, when they prefer to eliminate the FCAT also. Maybe our children will learn and retain the 3 R's if that is what is taught again! Florida schools are so behind in their education system and that is a sin!! Where is our tax dollars and Lottery money going--NOT TO EDUCATION!!