Campaign Platform

[Danny Glidewell]

As I talk with people about my candidacy for the House District 5 seat I am frequently asked about my platform. So I am publishing my platform beginning with point 1 which deals with education:


Education reform is desperately needed in Florida . It is imperative that we restore control of our schools to our local elected school boards. Tallahassee has made a travesty of educating our children with the ongoing emphasis on tests and the seizure from the local school boards of the issues of teacher compensation and evaluation. Recently they proved that the test scores and our children’s education is nothing more than political fodder when they cynically lowered the FCAT standards because too many children were not proficient and parents around the state were outraged. Why raise standards if you are going to lower them when politics gets a little hot? The so-called Student Success Act was nothing more than a power grab by Tallahassee and does great damage to our public schools and the teaching profession. The idea of tying a teacher's job performance evaluation and compensation to how children perform on a test is misguided and will lead to teachers leaving Florida if not repealed.

It is also important to properly fund the Class size amendment. Twice the people of the state have voted to make this a priority. We should arrange our budget so that the people's desires are met without raising taxes.

We must immediately remove the state from the education equation, deemphasize FCAT and other tests and restore control of compensation and evaluation of teachers to the local school boards. My first priority is to introduce bills to make these changes.

 

[Andy A]

While I agree with restoration of operation of the schools to the local school board, what is your methodology for determining the learning level of students if not the FCAT?

 

[Danny Glidewell]

There are many achievement tests and placement tests available. Plus the teachers themselves know if the student is learning the material. The problem in Florida is not the test itself but the emphasis that is placed on it and how the state uses it for things besides determining the learning level of the students.

 

[ricky bobby]

From what I hear local school districts have control of local schools. What's needed in public education is for school boards to be in charge of the superintendent and not the other way around. The general rule all over the country is for school boards to hire superintendents. In Walton county, the school board is a rubber stamp board. My understanding is that only three states even allow elected superintendents. It's my understanding that the best teachers aren't being hired either. But I'm sure that's because budgets don't allow for the most experienced teachers with graduate degrees.

 

[Andy A]

ricky bobby is right about the election of the school superintendent. That should be the responsibility of the school board with input from parents and teachers if so desired.

A word or two about best and most experienced teachers. Absolutely no latitude is given for hiring teachers without the proper tickets mostly created by unionization. A quick example, but only one of many. Many military personnel and others have taught courses, prepared lesson plans and generally could be excellent teachers and have advance degrees in their particular field. Because of the stringent criteria necessary to teach our youth, they are prevented from doing so even though in many cases they would be as or more qualified than those appointed to teaching positions. This is one reason so many parents have turned to home schooling. Many can and do, do a better job than the public school system.

 

[Annie66]

I taught for more than 20 years in schools where most of the teachers had graduate degrees. In Florida about 25% of our teachers have masters degrees or higher. In Walton county the number is less than the state average.

 

[Danny Glidewell]

Andy you have a great point. The standards need to be adjusted for real life experiences.

 

[ricky bobby]

Most public employee unions don't look after the interest of their members. I'll bet a lot of experienced, well educated teachers would rather work for less than what the union demands, but I suppose the union feels that a teacher is better off being unemployed than to work for a reduced salary. What is needed in Florida is what they've done in some states like Wisconsin. Right to work states seem to be doing a lot better than collective bargaining states. Republicans love to rant about being so conservative, why can't the legislature, with a super majority in both houses work to make Florida a right to work state?

 

[Bob Wells]

Most public employee unions don't look after the interest of their members. I'll bet a lot of experienced, well educated teachers would rather work for less than what the union demands, but I suppose the union feels that a teacher is better off being unemployed than to work for a reduced salary. What is needed in Florida is what they've done in some states like Wisconsin. Right to work states seem to be doing a lot better than collective bargaining states. Republicans love to rant about being so conservative, why can't the legislature, with a super majority in both houses work to make Florida a right to work state?

Sorry, Florida is a RIGHT TO WORK State. Being a Right to Work State does not stop Employees from starting a Union, being a Right To Work State only makes it where the employee does not have to be a member but yet still receive the benefit of what is enjoyed by the members who pay dues. Its welfare for the folks who don't want to pay for the representation they receive.

As of 2011, only 11.8% of the workforce was Unionized, of that somewhere in the neighborhood 38% were public sector members.
I know I know, its the Unions Fault

 

[ricky bobby]

How many teachers in Walton county public schools and the teachers in the other 66 counties don't belong to the union? My understanding is that teachers become members of the union as soon as they are hired? That's right to work?