Today's news

CLICKED AND READ: The story of a Pasco substitute teacher who claimed he was fired because of "wizardry" makes its way around the globe. Like usual, there was more to the story than his side, but judging from the response that School Board members got, readers weren't much interested in all the facts.

FIX IT OR CLOSE IT: Florida certainly doesn't need more lawyers, so if Florida A&M can't repair its law school, the state should just cut its losses and move on, the Times editorializes.

FEA TO FIGHT VOUCHERS: Meeting in Orlando, the Florida Education Association decided to challenge the legality of two proposed constitutional amendments on vouchers that are headed to the November ballot, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

SOME UPLIFTING WORDS: Palm Beach superintendent Art Johnson offers the Class of 2008 a fairly conventional graduation speech, unlike past years where he's proven controversial, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER? Some teachers at a Naples private school find they're not always able to answer the questions, but they have tons of fun emphasizing drama and the arts along with academics while staging their show, the Naples Daily News reports.

THEY NEED A TEACHER: A Venice Elementary special needs class has cycled through four substitute teachers since the February arrest of their regular teacher, raising parent concerns about the education of their children, the Herald-Tribune reports.

LOOKING FOR A LEADER: The University of West Florida seeks a new president, one who can bring in the bucks and work wonders in the Legislature, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

AROUND THE NATION: Parents at a D.C.-area school are trying to figure out why one mom is trying to stop them from bringing dogs with them at dropoff and pickup times, the Washington Post reports. Dallas-area schools look for ways, such as charging kids for bus rides, to cope with rising fuel and food costs, the Dallas Morning News reports. A troubled New Jersey school pulls out the stops to try to prepare kids for the state's upcoming accountability testing, the NY Times reports. Wonder if this would be banned under Florida's pending new rules banning teaching to the test.

Comments

[Purple-in-Tampa]

Mr. Solochek:

Normally you are an objective reporter but your story in the Sunday, May 18, 2008, St. Petersburg Times 'Internet story of Pasco 'wizard' teacher spreads like magic' shows some bias in favor of the Pasco County School District. You also seam not to like Tampa Bay Channel 10 which I would say has done a good job of reporting this.

You say "In fact, assistant superintendent Renalia DuBose told the St. Petersburg Times, it wasn't the magic trick at all. Rather, the district had written reports from the principal and a teacher at Rushe Middle School detailing Piculas' use of profane language, his inability to control the class and his decision to put a student in charge — something the student's parent complained about."

In the letter sent to James Piculas from Patricia Sinclair, Supervisor of Human Resources, dated January 28, 2008, states "During your substitute assignment at Charles S. Rushe Middle School it was reported that you did not follow the lesson plans, allowed students on the computer, told the fifth period peer that she was in charge, and showed magic tricks to the students."

Will I guess that your fact that "assistant superintendent Renalia DuBose told the St. Petersburg Times, it wasn't the magic trick at all" is not true. According to the letter it was a factor.
The letter can be viewed here: http://www.tampabays10.com/images/pdfs/magician_letter.pdf

There are several problems with the Dismissal Form done by Dave Estabrook, Principal. It appears that Mr. Estabrook had to correct the date from some time in February to January 23. Also the date that "this happened" in the letter to James Piculas was January 16, 2008, but in the Dismissal Form by Mr. Estabrook is January 17, 2008. It appears that Dismissal Form was hastily put together which caused a number of mistakes including misspelling management in the last sentence.
The Dismissal Form can be viewed here: http://www.tampabays10.com/images/pdfs/magician_dismissal_form.pdf

Speaking of Classroom Management; According to the 'Classroom Management Strategies' web site, "Here are some classroom management strategies that can be used by substitute teachers. Use your talents! If you know some magic tricks, that works well in the same way. Show them one at the beginning of class, and then offer to show them more as rewards." I guess that Mr. Estabrook and the Pasco County School District do know much about classroom management strategies.