Book buy-back leaves students with more than extra cash
By Tiffanie Reynolds | gargoyle@flagler.edu When Belltower Books hired Jessica Solomon, all she thought she would be getting back was money for her books next semester.
Stories
SIFE Blog: Made it through the first round
Made it to the Top 20 in the 2011 SIFE National Exposition! We will be presenting again on Thursday at 11:05 a.m. The awards ceremony was a lot of fun. Our treasurer, Estefania Mones, received recognition for two scholarships and Michelle Olson-Rogers received the SIFE…
SIFE Blog: Nationals!
The team practicing the presentation in our hotel. We safely arrived in Minneapolis, MN! We have been enjoying the wonderful food options in the city and the cool weather. We travel around indoors through skyways or as we call them, “gerbil tunnels.” Some of our…
Wanee Music Festival 2011
The 21st century has a Woodstock that isn’t named “Woodstock” — its name is “Wanee.”
The spirit of Suwannee park was thick and moist in the air — a stale smell of home clung to Wanee Music Festival’s grounds as I took a deep breath and watched everyone pass me by on their own time and in their own mind.
Higher teacher pay will bring quality education
By Lindy Almony | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Americans speak often about investing in the future with K-12 education. President Barack Obama said during a speech in February that, “Education is an investment that we need to win the future.”
How much, though, do we really invest in education in this country? And how much does the success of our education programs depend on the teachers?
Pence amendment masks dangers of Republican budget
By Alex Bonus | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Instead of meaningful change, our country’s leaders have turned an economic debate into an ideological war over abortion.
Instead of reporting the real dangers of Republican budget cuts, our nation’s media have enflamed emotions on a burnt and withered argument.
Instead of diving into the heart of these issues, we were deceived by a flawless red herring.
The easy way out of a tough spot
By Caroline Young | gargoyle@flagler.edu
New Florida Gov. Rick Scott has always said that he knows what is best for Florida education. His new law, the Student Success Act makes standardized tests the main evaluation tool for teachers’ abilities. And, he says it weeds out the fruitless ones.
Contrary to Scott’s belief, this law is everything but the best choice for our state’s suffering education system.
New teacher pay law stifles student learning
By Cal Colgan | jcolgan@flagler.edu
Class is about to begin. Today’s lesson starts with a simple question: How effective are state tests at determining student performances?
Ah, good. You realize this is a loaded question. After all, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is one of the most controversial standardized tests in the Sunshine State’s public schools. Since its passage in 1996, the FCAT has garnered praise from lawmakers and harsh criticism from teachers and their advocates.
Merit pay hurts teachers, taxpayers
By Alex Bonus | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Lawmakers are forcing failed reforms on failing schools, hoping two wrongs makes a passing grade.
The Student Success Act, signed by Gov. Rick Scott on March 24, ties teacher salaries to student achievement. Starting July 1, professional evaluators will rank teachers on a four-part scale to determine their eligibility for bonuses, pay raises and promotions.
Newt, a social conservative, I don’t think so
By Mari Pothier | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich seems to be playing that typical political game of do as I say not as I do.
Despite the fact that he has been married three times, Gingrich is pursuing a possible run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination as a social conservative. But wait a minute. Aren’t social conservatives supposed to represent fundamental Christian values, one being the sanctity of marriage?
But good old Gingrich still thinks he is the man for the job.