Submitted by Samuel Jefferson Kennard
March 31, 2016 1:00 p.m.
While some advocates are busy trying to keep our Nassau County public schools out of the meddling hands of self-serving Tallahassee politicians, we must not be distracted from our goals of educating young people to become productive and successful adults.
Answers to questions pertinent to what could be considered harmful to minors should be left to experienced, professional, educators, who have their students’ best interests at heart, and not the State Attorney General. Where public education is concerned, we do not need “nanny state” influence. Local school boards should be responsible for local school curriculum content and to the electorate.
All registered Nassau County voters should be eligible to vote for Nassau County Schools Superintendent, instead of a politically “gamed” closed election, which systematically excludes 26,825 potential voters, approximately forty percent of the electorate. Schools Superintendent and School Boards should be selected through non-partisan elections and not appointed. Our children and grandchildren deserve the best and no less.
On the subject of just what is better, I am not convinced that our Nassau County 2014-15 “best of the best” overall grade of “A” rating is as commendable as it first appears. An A on this grading scale equals 62 percent of points or greater. Nassau County has been designated an “Academically High Performing District” for eight consecutive years. Is this something like being the brightest 10-watt bulb?
When you look deeper into Nassau County achievement, as measured by Florida Department of Education, you discover that approximately one third of full-year enrolled students reportedly did not achieve satisfactory scores in English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Reportedly, only 65 percent achieved passing scores. Underachievement is not solely a Nassau County or Florida problem. It is a pervasive national crisis resulting, some believe, from a 50 year failed government experiment in U.S. education.
It is noteworthy that the comprehensive Education Bill passed by the Florida Legislature’s 2016 Session failed to include improved instruction and early intervention for elementary school students who struggle to read.
While we are congratulating ourselves and “celebrating education mediocrity”, international standardized education testing continues to reflect embarrassing, below average, performance for U.S. students. In math and science literacy and other key skills, U.S. students’ global PISA rankings are an unimpressive 35th – 28th. It is no wonder the U.S. has lost its once envied competitive global advantage.
Florida ranks an inferior 42nd nationally when considering the number of high school students who start in the ninth grade and graduate within four years. Many high school graduates are simply unprepared for college. According to the Florida Department of Education, the 2012-13 Nassau County high school graduation rate was a record 90.9 percent. However, only a reported 43.9 percent of those graduates enrolled in Florida public and private post-secondary education. Presently, only 23.0 percent of the Nassau County population over 25 years of age has attained a Bachelor Degree or higher.
Although many graduate each year, less than two thirds of those matriculate in a college or university. Only 61.5 percent of Nassau County’s 2013 graduates complete a college preparatory curriculum. A rigorous enriched high school curriculum and participation in accelerated academic Dual Enrollment and Advancement Placement type programs are reliable predictors of future college success. Only 53.0 percent of Nassau County’s high school 2013 graduates completed at least one AP, IB, AICE, or Dual Enrollment course. A low 48.1 percent took the SAT and 57.8 percent took the ACT, the leading college readiness tests. Thus, it appears that a significant number of high school graduates demonstrate no motivational interest in pursuing post-secondary education. This low expectation becomes self-fulfilling.
NASSAU COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS
(Most Recent Years Data)
Graduation Rate 90.9%
Completed College Prep Curriculum 61.5%
Took At Least One Accelerated Course 53.0%
Took SAT 48.1%
Post Graduation Florida Enrollment 43.9%
Source: Florida Department of Education.
College and career readiness, in my opinion, should also include non – academic factors for high school graduation and career success. Also, the use of school counselors and career specialists and successful career mentors from the community should be expanded to enhance college and career motivation and readiness.
Experienced, dedicated and often frustrated, teachers have suggested remedies to improve public education. One teacher, recently retired after 37 years, complained that she was “unable to enjoy a teachable moment and expand on ideas”. They report there is too much emphasis on passive learning and scripted lessons in public education today and not enough emphasis on student involved active learning, teaching critical thinking skills and the pursuit of academic excellence. In the real world, after schooling is over, there are no prizes awarded for participation.
Much of what I know about secondary education comes from more than ten years experience as a Trustee of two highly successful, private secondary schools. Although it varies only slightly by year, typically 95-100 percent of graduating seniors from these schools go straight to four-year colleges and universities. Also, I observe the impact of education underachievement in the competitive workplace.
We must ask ourselves, are the students, especially in our secondary schools, being taught to prepare themselves for college and work after graduation? We know that the quality and level of education achievement greatly influences the likelihood of being successful after high school. The direct correlation between years of education and average personal income and standard of living is indisputable and persuasive in favor of more effective education.
Notwithstanding recent improvements, the responsibility of the next Nassau County Schools Superintendent for educating the next generation will be an ambitious challenge. Clearly, we need the most capable and responsible local leadership, dedicated professional teachers, ambitious goals for excellence, confident and interested students and realistic metrics for measuring educational achievement in Nassau County and throughout the U.S.
There is much to consider. We should think about these factors for success when we vote for Nassau County Schools Superintendent this November.
Editor’s Note: Samuel Jefferson Kennard’s Florida roots go back to the early nineteenth century. His pioneer ancestor signed the Territory of Florida’s First Constitution in 1838 and others have lived continuously on Amelia Island for 150 years. The great grandson of a Cumberland Sound pilot family, Kennard continues a proud tradition of advocacy for a viable Port of Fernandina. Kennard stated, “Nassau County, and Fernandina Beach need a working port. It’s part of our rich heritage and who we are.”
Kennard is founding chairman of Stand for Amelia Island, Inc., a not for profit State of Florida Corporation dedicated to advocating solutions for important issues affecting the general public welfare of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and Nassau County.
Kennard was graduated from the University of Georgia and attended Harvard Business School executive development programs. Kennard is married and he and his wife, Karin live on Amelia Island.
Excellent article and love the analogy about the 10 watt light bulb as it is indicative of the “dumbing down” of criteria whether to look good in comparative results or avoid hurting a child’s feelings whose achievement isn’t up to par. There is no excuse for a child who can’t meet 9th grade reading, writing and math thresholds to advance further until those levels are met.
Bravo! My argument for attaining better schools is to regard education as a priority. Start with the staff!
If you want to attract the best teachers–how about paying them a living wage? Also, there are no incentives offered if a teacher goes beyond a bachelor’s degree. How does that demonstrate that a community cares about educating their kids? If you want teachers to feel respected and invested in their school, you have to pay them. Education is not considered a priority in Florida. The “grading” of the schools is a joke, and most people know it. Look at the statistics.
Very perceptive and informative commentary from Sam Kennard.
Education excellence is a continuous process that depends on everyone in the community – from top to bottom. The front lines are in the classroom and home. Qualified and experienced teachers, involved and informed parents, and more time on target (meaning reading and math practice) all play key roles. Emphasis on and reinforcement of basic reading and math skills provide the building blocks that set the stage for future growth and achievement. Higher level thinking and advanced instruction in all disciplines depend fundamentally on basic skills, learned well. Our Nassau County School’s System, although not perfect, has done an excellent job in comparison with other Florida school systems. Building on it’s solid foundation and going forward, not backward, is quite important.
Sam’s comment about the 2016 Florida Legislature’s failure to provide for improved instruction and early intervention for elementary school students who struggle to read is significant. This bunch sure found time though to deal with private “charter schools”, intrastate student transfers, and athletic eligibility, not to mention the NRA’s “guns” in school idiocy (which thankfully failed).