Guest guest Posted October 15, 2010 Report Share Posted October 15, 2010 The upcoming election is presenting an amendment to what many voted on in 2002; smaller classroom sizes. http://noon8fl.org/home/ I work for Dade schools and the way the principals are getting around this law is by placing up to 36 children in a small classroom with 2 teachers, to justify space and meet the requirements. For any child in a special ed program, this is detrimental to their academic and social progress! The legislature is responsible for providing the funding for this original amendment to reduce class size. My son's school (a Broward school), just placed 8 kids into his class yesterday, with a new teacher. He is in 2nd grade and the 8 new kids are 3rd graders. He is fully mainstreamed and there are a couple of other ESE kids in his class. ALL of the kids, particularly OURS, will suffer. I called the principal yesterday and he almost encouraged me to vote YES on 8 to repeal it! Now, he has a history of managing his school very well and very efficiently and could manage the classroom size so I understand his point. But, overall, our kids need and deserve smaller classes. Please be informed of this amendment and how it will hurt all of our kids to repeal it. Vote NO! I'm passing out flyers at my son's school. I was livid yesterday and wanted to call the media. I believe parents really have no idea what is happening in their children's classrooms. It's like we voted for something good and now we are being punished through our children. Don’t take the bait – Vote No on 8! BACKGROUND • Over and over, research has shown what is common sense to parents and teachers, lowering class sizes improves student performance. • In 2002, Florida voters passed the original class size amendment, sending a clear message to the Florida Legislature that we were tired of our children suffering academically in overcrowded classrooms. • Despite the legislature dragging its feet, this proven reform is working for Florida. Class sizes are smaller and student performance is on the rise. • Now, the legislature is trying to trick voters into supporting Amendment 8 to undermine the progress we’ve made. That’s why parents and teachers across Florida are standing up and saying "No on 8" so we can keep reasonable class sizes where teachers can teach and students can learn. AMENDMENT 8 • Amendment 8 is a constitutional amendment placed on the 2010 General Election ballot by the Florida Legislature in an attempt to trick voters into weakening the original amendment we voted for to reduce the size of overcrowded classrooms. • Amendment 8 would reduce the State’s support for local public schools by amending Section 1, Article IX of the Florida Constitution. POLITICIANS WANT US TO TURN OUR BACKS ON STUDENTS • Politicians shouldn’t interfere with our local schools and our teachers who know we need reasonable class sizes to give students the best chance to succeed. • Now is not the time to move backwards on the gains we’ve made in our schools. • Don’t let the legislature sidestep their responsibility to students. Don’t be tricked into voting against our kids. • Voters already approved lowering class size and politicians who swore to uphold the constitution should not be able to ignore the will of the people. Pd.Pol.Adv. Paid for by Vote NO on 8 | P. O. Box 10913 Tallahassee, FL 32302 | 850- 766- 2860 www.NOon8FL.org AMENDMENT 8 WOULD BRING BACK CROWDED CLASSROOMS Grade Level 2002-03 Class Size Average Current Average If Amendment 8 Passes Pre-K-3 23 16 21 Grades 4-8 24 19 27 Grades 9-12 24 22 30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2010 Report Share Posted October 15, 2010 I should've indicated that Broward and other districts are also doing this; Dade is not alone in this practice. Sent from my iPhone The upcoming election is presenting an amendment to what many voted on in 2002; smaller classroom sizes. http://noon8fl.org/home/ I work for Dade schools and the way the principals are getting around this law is by placing up to 36 children in a small classroom with 2 teachers, to justify space and meet the requirements. For any child in a special ed program, this is detrimental to their academic and social progress! The legislature is responsible for providing the funding for this original amendment to reduce class size. My son's school (a Broward school), just placed 8 kids into his class yesterday, with a new teacher. He is in 2nd grade and the 8 new kids are 3rd graders. He is fully mainstreamed and there are a couple of other ESE kids in his class. ALL of the kids, particularly OURS, will suffer. I called the principal yesterday and he almost encouraged me to vote YES on 8 to repeal it! Now, he has a history of managing his school very well and very efficiently and could manage the classroom size so I understand his point. But, overall, our kids need and deserve smaller classes. Please be informed of this amendment and how it will hurt all of our kids to repeal it. Vote NO! I'm passing out flyers at my son's school. I was livid yesterday and wanted to call the media. I believe parents really have no idea what is happening in their children's classrooms. It's like we voted for something good and now we are being punished through our children. 　 Don’t take the bait – Vote No on 8! BACKGROUND • Over and over, research has shown what is common sense to parents and teachers, lowering class sizes improves student performance. • In 2002, Florida voters passed the original class size amendment, sending a clear message to the Florida Legislature that we were tired of our children suffering academically in overcrowded classrooms. • Despite the legislature dragging its feet, this proven reform is working for Florida. Class sizes are smaller and student performance is on the rise. • Now, the legislature is trying to trick voters into supporting Amendment 8 to undermine the progress we’ve made. That’s why parents and teachers across Florida are standing up and saying "No on 8" so we can keep reasonable class sizes where teachers can teach and students can learn. AMENDMENT 8 • Amendment 8 is a constitutional amendment placed on the 2010 General Election ballot by the Florida Legislature in an attempt to trick voters into weakening the original amendment we voted for to reduce the size of overcrowded classrooms. • Amendment 8 would reduce the State’s support for local public schools by amending Section 1, Article IX of the Florida Constitution. POLITICIANS WANT US TO TURN OUR BACKS ON STUDENTS • Politicians shouldn’t interfere with our local schools and our teachers who know we need reasonable class sizes to give students the best chance to succeed. • Now is not the time to move backwards on the gains we’ve made in our schools. • Don’t let the legislature sidestep their responsibility to students. Don’t be tricked into voting against our kids. • Voters already approved lowering class size and politicians who swore to uphold the constitution should not be able to ignore the will of the people. Pd.Pol.Adv. Paid for by Vote NO on 8 | P. O. Box 10913 Tallahassee, FL 32302 | 850- 766- 2860 www.NOon8FL.org AMENDMENT 8 WOULD BRING BACK CROWDED CLASSROOMS Grade Level 2002-03 Class Size Average Current Average If Amendment 8 Passes Pre-K-3 23 16 21 Grades 4-8 24 19 27 Grades 9-12 24 22 30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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