Companion bills in the state legislature are attempting to expand a school voucher program. The House bill recently got a green light from one of its committee stops, but news accounts point out that the House version may not quite match the version in the Senate. The House bill gives the voucher program a big boost with no strings attached. However, the Senate version will likely push for more accountability in the voucher-accepting private schools.
Florida Citizens for Science doesn’t stake out a position on vouchers overall, but we certainly do take a stand on wanting sound science education for all students in our state. Our concern is that research has revealed at least 164 voucher-accepting private schools teach some form of creationism in science classes. That shocking fact has been met with a dismissive shrug by nearly everyone here in Florida. That’s deeply disappointing and discouraging to those of us who love science and want to do something about this travesty.
The bad news is that those in the majority in the House don’t think private schools should be held to any standards (Gradebook blog).
Senate President Don Gaetz has said the proposal won’t pass in his chamber unless lawmakers require scholarship students to take the state tests.
The House proposal makes no mention of the assessments. And after Thursday’s meeting, Subcommittee Chairman Ritch Workman said he had no intention of adding that language to the bill.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Workman said.
Not everyone is blind, though (Ocala StarBanner).
Some of the most heated exchanges came over school accountability standards. Critics of vouchers often point out that private schools are not required to administer the same student exams as public schools, and their teachers do not have to be certified or undergo regular evaluations.
“Private does not equal high quality,†said Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee.
The response is vacuous.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,†said Finance and Tax Subcommittee Chairman Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne. He added, “I think the whole concept of making these private schools mimic the public schools would defeat the purpose of giving these parents choice.â€
Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, said private school families can vote with their feet.
“It’s the ultimate accountability because if the school doesn’t do a good job all of the students will be gone and the school will be out of business,†he said.
The problem is that not everyone knows poor quality education when they see it. Completely absent from this debate is the creationism angle. Too many parents want their children to learn misinformation because they dismiss the real science themselves. This gravely stunts their children’s education, shuts doors on the children’s future and perpetuates the cycle of scientific ignorance. Public schools are forbidden from teaching creationism in science classes due to several important U.S. Supreme Court and federal court decisions. Because some voucher supporters refuse to hold private schools accountable, money is being siphoned away from public schools where certified science teachers are expected to meet instructional standards and given to private schools where, in many cases, teachers with no certification can teach blatantly unscientific garbage. It’s an innovative way to work around a law some people don’t like.
I understand that mentioning the teaching of evolution in voucher debates would likely spark firestorms. But the ugly truth is that at least 164 voucher schools are teaching unscientific material in a science classroom using tax money. It’s the throbbing red sore thumb of this debate. Why does no one care?
… private schools are not required to administer the same student exams as public schools, and their teachers do not have to be certified or undergo regular evaluations.
Nor do the teachers, or any other personnel, have to go through criminal background checks.
Nor do the facilities undergo fire, safety, or health inspections.
Even with the political angles, these schemes create an open invitation to hustlers and disasters.
Where Do Public School Teachers Send Own Kids?
Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/10/17/where_do_public_school_teachers_send_own_kids__120352.html#ixzz2vNRyhduv
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Where Do Public School Teachers
Send Their Kids to School?
http://edexcellence.net/sites/default/files/publication/pdfs/Fwd-1.1_7.pdf
The evolution education issue is the elephant in the living room in the voucher debate. If SUFS schools have to take Florida’s state tests, that will include the science tests. Every single individual involved in the discussion is quite aware of that. But yes – no one wants to say it out loud for fear of what will follow.
Keep saying it, Brandon.
Brandon
There is a big difference between teaching creationism as the only explanation and allowing teachers to included, “supplemental textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner,†specifically theories regarding “evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloningâ€.
“Public schools are forbidden from teaching creationism in science classes due to several important U.S. Supreme Court and federal court decisions.” If this is true, Tennessee and Louisiana both are not teaching creationism or violating any laws by allowing students to think for themselves.
The only real problem here is that this approach could hinder the ongoing indoctrination of secular humanist ideology.
Chris,
Ok lets just shut down science in school, no point in all that studying and testing. Just get the bible out and all your questions are answered right?
Just say “God did it” that’s all you need to know students and you can remain just as stupid as me? Although, calling you stupid would be an insult to stupid people.
You claim a conspiracy of secular ideology, yet your entire goal is to turn this country into a Christian theocracy. Lying for Jesus again Chris ?
I would say you were stupid
Chris: “Public schools are forbidden from teaching creationism in science classes due to several important U.S. Supreme Court and federal court decisions.†If this is true…
It is. Haven’t you done any homework on the creationism controversy?
… Tennessee and Louisiana both are not teaching creationism or violating any laws
Just why do you think that follows?
… by allowing students to think for themselves.
And how does that connect to indoctrinating them with long-disproven canards?
Your assignment for this week: look up and describe the meaning of non sequitur.
Pierce-You and Ivorygirl are so much fun it hurts. I’m just here to add a little salt to the tasteless primordial soup.
You should know, your opposition to freedom of thought and freedom of expression are two of the foundational components which has made this country great. Control over thought and expression are necessary components of any totalitarian state. Todays public educational system is successfully destroying any hope the nation will remain free or be blessed by God.
A good example of ‘non sequitur’ would be Ivorygirl’s last post. Her psychobabble has nothing to do with anything. Her commentary is usually off target and meaningless. And a coherent conversation is impossible. Nothing personal, but just a good example of a closed minded well indoctrinated individual who has relinquished the ability to reason or think due to the acceptance of bogus propaganda. Such as the members of the Heavens Gate cult. Acts 28:27 ”For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them”.
Chris – It’s my opposition to those things which has made America great?
How did the country ever get along without me?
That’s right, Chris. You know the proper method for doing science – just take a vote of the general lay public, who are utterly clueless (like you) of even the most fundamental aspects of the particular science in question, and we will discover the real truth about nature and that will be what is taught in the school science class. Enough said.What a idiot you are.