We need smarter students. Outlaw home schooling, close all of the church schools and private schools forcing those kids into the public schools, and watch the scores go up.

"While the majority of the district’s fourth-, eighth- and 10th-graders scored above grade level on the exam, but they were below the state average of the number of students scoring at or above grade level on the exam."

The NDN Staff needs to take the writing FCAT. I'm not sure they would pass.

Corn- I don't think that would work. It would be very interesting to see how these kids in private schools and home schools did if they were required to take the FCAT. Scores would not be that great! Remember- public schools are just that- opened to the public. We HAVE to take any Tom, Dick, Harry, and Jane who walks in the front door with the correct paperwork!
At my high school we are presently administering 24 AP exams over these next 2 weeks. How many are offered at CSN? FBA? NCA? St John?

cornandbeans,

The reason why parents use home schooling or any other educational alternatives is because public schools have failed them and do not wish their children to be exposed to the politically correct garbage of public schools.

People should have the right to send their kids anywhere they want as long as they get a good education.

Corn, I hate to repeat myself but I feel I must every time someone makes such a statement.

There is NO evidence that private, church or home schooled children score better than public school children. The last two major studies completed actually showed public schools slightly ahead of the non-religious private schools, followed by religious schools, Lutheran at the top, Catholic next and Baptist schools at the bottom. Homeschoolers ( is that a word?) were below even Baptist schools.

What you opponents of public schools love to do is look at the best of the private and home schooled children and lie to yourself that they are all that good. For every good religious school there is one that does nothing but teach the Bible. For every good private school there is one that exists for the wrong reason. For every successful home schooled child there are multiple home schooled students who do nothing.

Add to that the private schools are afraid to take the FCAT so that they can be compared to public schools. They know that people will not pay the ridiculous tuition when they find out they get nothing in return.

CSN has 20 APs and is adding additional AP classes next year. Not bad for a school with a 2008 senior class of 54 kids.

I think past experience proves my point. No matter how good the teacher or how much money you spend on education, the only factor that determines the success of a student is his/her willingness to learn. Get better students, improve the scores. If better students don't reside outside of the public school system, then we should early on kick out the students that aren't willing to learn and end up as trouble makers and roadblocks for the kids that do want to learn.

I don't see anything wrong with the Mexican way. 12 year olds that don't want to learn can always tend cattle or sweep floors.

Corn- what we need to do is offer students more VOCATIONAL EDUCATION! 12 years of the 3 R's ain't for everyone! We do a GREAT job for those students who plan to continue their education in college BUT a LOUSY job for those who do not. If you are not going to college, you either:
1. enter the work force
2. go into the military
In our American Public School System we HAVE to take in whoever walks in the front door no "ifs" " and" or "buts" as long as their paperwork is in order.

The Collier County Public School System failed my son. We pulled him out this school year and he is now going to a private school. He is doing so much better now.

anotherPOV,

Can you please post a link to these studies?

JLB- what do you pay in TUITION? I'm sure he is doing great- they want that TUITION $$$ to keep coming "in"- give him all A's and B's- keeps everyone happy and the tuition money coming in!!

I agree biomanogt. The Europeans and Japanese have been doing this forever - segregating the college students from Voc-Tec very early.

Then, don't test the Voc-Tec students = scores go up.

JLB- I'm waiting for an answer- how much you paying in tuition?

That is none of your business. But I see the proof evertime I get his report card.

The Public School Systyem is horrible and it is going to get worse. They DO NOT care about the children and giving them the best education.

I thought Mr. Donovan said test scores had gone UP under Dr. Thompson. And he even had the insight to say it before any scores had been released. I can't imagine Mr. Donovan would mislead people.

Honestly, Collier has lost so many of its wonderful teachers. No wonder the scores are going down. You cannot hire all 22 year olds just off the education degree boat.

I used to teach 4th and 5th grade and FCAT writing was a breeze. You just won't find the quality of teachers you once had until the District cleans up and stops making a mockery of itself. CCPS has a very poor reputation around the country now. It saddens me. I am leaving and taking a job at a private law firm until things get better. No teacher should have to deal with these. I feel horrible that I'm leaving the classroom, but it's leave or lose my sanity at this point.

I have to chime in here: I am a product of private schooling (Catholic)and it was a far better education than the public schools near my home. Most children from my neighborhood, whether Catholic or not, went to my school to avoid the horrors of public school. Sure, things have changed, but I would much prefer my child attend a private school (unless he/she could attend a wealthy public school) than a public (especially in CCPS).

So if I read these comments correctly, most here are in favor of segregated schools?

Once again I say- the school that I am at offers 24 AP courses. Anyone out there in Private School Land can tell me how many AP courses are offered at CSN? First Bap Acad? St John? NCA? or any other private school here in Collier County!
C'mon- step up to the plate and tell me! As long as you keep paying those monthly tuition bills your child will get good grades. Remember- they can PICK and Choose who they allow "in" whereas the public schools cannot pick and choose. Private schools can also kick your child out as soon as he/she "acts" up and causes trouble. That's when you'll come knockin' on the public school door!I've seen it a hundred times in my 35 years here with CCPS! My son graduated from NHS class of 2000 and got a fantastic education. Why? Because he knew he wasn't there to screw around and goof off! He knew that the key to a good, productive, rewarding adulthood was having a good education.

POV - The private schools aren't "afraid" of the FCAT. Yes, it might compare them to the public schools; but all things considered, I wouldn't WANT to be compared to the public schools, especially in Collier. As far as getting nothing in return, we have seen more progress in our son in the past eight months at his current school than we did in three years at CCPS.
Biomanagt - Since you seem to be so concerned about jlb's financial status, before you ask, it's none of your business what we pay either. We don't concern ourselves much with the report cards. We look for the "living proof", and we've seen it time and time again. To us, it would be worth it at a hundred times the cost.
Finally, Beenthere - I'm sure you're correct. Mr. Donovan would NEVER, EVER mislead anyone about anything at all. ---No, seriously. I mean it. Stop laughing ! I'm serious.

biomanogt-
You are proving my point. Your son was willing to learn, so he did. Even with the distraction of many kids in school who are not willing to learn. You can teach a good kid in a tent, and you can't teach a bad kid in the Taj Majah. It's all those in the middle that are being hurt by the public school system.

Yes, I believe in segregation by a students willingness to learn. It's done in every day in life every where, except public school systems.

Yes, European and Japanese schools do separate the college-bound from the vocational students in middle school, BUT they DO test all their high school students.
Many people in America make the excuse that they only compare their best to our average students to explain why we have fallen so far behind the rest of the world. It's just not true. I've taught there, and I know.
Segregating students by ability, and only requiring a middle school education, does seem to work for them. Not having such a wide range of abilities allows the teacher to more easily target the correct level of difficulty, and reduces the frustration of students who:
a, are over their heads,
b, are suffering because the teacher has to dumb down the course to include the slower kids, or
c, wondering why the slow kid in the back is disrupting the class.
I agree that we are not serving the majority of the students here. We need good plumbers, carpenters, and electricians. Where do kids go to learn these skills? Not everyone needs to go to college!

Voc-tech schools, formerly known as community colleges, are great places to learn trades. Stupid Edison wants to be a four year school and is abandoning Voc-tech education. Shame on them. You can't even take landscaping courses at Edison. Idiots.

The problem is that Voc-tech schools should accept 16 year olds. I think Lorenzo Walker is doing a good job, but education professionals need to do the segregation a little earlier in a child's education. I know there is some of this going on, but it needs to be more structured. And a middle schooler needs to know his future depends on his performance.

The last time I checked, the good old USA was and is the ONLY country to land a person ( I'm trying to be politically correct here) on the moon. Look at how many foreign students come to OUR UNIVERSITIES to study! We have THE BEST education system in the world. Maybe not PERFECT, but it is the BEST and we offer the opportunity to improve your life through education to every Tom, Dick and Harry who walks into our schools. My advice- PARENTS- GET INVLOVED IN YOUR CHILDS EDUCATION! KNOW HIS/HER TEACHERS! EMAIL THEM! GO TO THE OPEN HOUSES! KNOW WHEN REPORT CARDS AND INTERIMS COME OUT! NIP PROBLEMS IN THE "BUD"! DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOUR KID HAS FAILED EVERYTHING SINCE AUGUST TO COME TO ME AND ASK ME WHAT CAN BE DONE TO "SALVAGE" HIS GRADES AND CREDITS!

That does it! Thompson is a miserable failure.
Time to send Thompson and his overpaid entourage back to the Bible Belt ASAP.

Collier Co. Schools are down the toilet. Some time ago, my kids went to Poinciana Elementary, then Gulfview Middle. They were great schools then, and seem to still be decent. Our experience at Naples High though has been extremely disappointing. My kids hate it there and my impression of several of the teachers at conferences, open houses, and the like has not been favorable. As parents, we try to do our part at home with homework, attending school functions, and keeping in touch with teachers. Granted, teenagers can be difficult and have to have some initiative and willingness to learn. I just think, however, that with the turmoil within the school board and a real estate correction, the good teachers are long gone. If we could move out of the school district, I would in a heartbeat....

OK, I'm trying again. My first one didn't post. So, if you see this twice, I apologize.
POV - The private schools aren't "afraid" of the FCAT. Yes, it might compare them to the public schools; but all things considered, I wouldn't WANT to be compared to the public schools, especially in Collier. As far as getting nothing in return, we have seen more progress in our son in the past eight months at his current school than we did in three years at CCPS.
Biomanagt - Since you seem to be so concerned about jlb's financial status, before you ask, it's none of your business what we pay either. We don't concern ourselves much with the report cards. We look for the "living proof", and we've seen it time and time again. To us, it would be worth it at a hundred times the cost.
Finally, Beenthere - I'm sure you're correct. Mr. Donovan would NEVER, EVER mislead anyone about anything at all. ---No, seriously. I mean it. Stop laughing ! I'm serious.

DAB- I taught at NHS from '73 to '93 ! Great school. Things have changed since then !I recommend you contact your childs' guidance counselor and DEMAND a conference with all the teachers. Don't take " ain't got the time" for an answer! I respond to parents phone calls, emails, and requests immediately! I would recommend a counselor for you to contact but that would not be "professional" of me.

Knight and JLB- My guess is your kids are in private schools on a McKay Scholarship! Good luck when the money runs out!

Knight and JLB- what norm referenced tests do they administer to your children in PRIVATE SCHOOL?
Stanford Achievement Test?
Iowa Test Of Basic Skills?
What about the PSAT?
PACT?
Do you even KNOW what these tests are?

I believe my children were given the ERB standardized tests when they were in middle school at CSN. It was so refreshing, when I asked their teachers about if they were prepared, I was told that the best preparation was a good night sleep, and that the teachers did not teach the test, instead the results were used by the school so that they could identify weaknesses and strenghts in their curriculum. A refreshing approach from the CCPS. In the high school at CSN they are given the PSAT and the ACT Plan test in 10th grade, and PSAT in 11th grade. The college counseling is bar none, the best!!!!

It is my contention that a student can do well at any school, public or private, if they are self-motivated, willing to accept responsibility for their work and actions and have parents that are involved in their education. The problems arise when ball practice (or whatever)is considered more important than finishing work, when parents don't know their child's teacher or even the grade level (don't roll your eyes, I have seen it myself).
Most kids in private schools do well because the parents are interested enough to put them there and pay for it. It also doesn't hurt that the parents that can afford it are most likely better educated themselves. However, if that child causes a serious problem, they will be back in public school. Public schools take everybody that comes through the door regardless of ability, handicaps or financial status.

My kids went all their schools years through CCPS and got an excellent education. Yes, they had a few poor teachers along the way. They also had average ones and many outstanding ones. They survived the poor ones because they still learned the information. That was my expectation. Think of your own education. Did you think every teacher was a superstar? Of course not, but if you were motivated to learn and your parents were supportive, you learned. So many parents coddle their kids now that the child is going to have a very rude awakening when they leave home. I recently read an article about mothers trying to set up interviews for their college graduate children. One employer said that was an automatic disqualifier.
Someone in a blog here once advocated parents pulling the kids out of public schools and putting them in private school. Well guess what you would have then...large private schools with the same problems as public schools. A big part of the solution is parents, parents parents.

Ok, I'm just wondering how many of you have actually SEEN one of these FCAT writing tests?? The multiple choice section is ridiculous! The prompt is subjective depending on who is reading it and scoring it! It is CYA for NCLB. None of it has any real life application. I've told my child (4th grade) I don't really care what the score comes back, it's one test on one/two days. I put a heck of a lot more faith in a writing portfolio than I do one test.

Biomanogt – First, yes my child is on the McKay. It doesn’t “run out”. It covers a portion of the tuition, and we cover the remainder (mckayscholarship.org). It “renews” every year – we’ve checked. Second, because of the type of school, I don’t believe they administer any of these, at least at the lower grade levels. Third, yes I do know what all of those tests are. Why are we discussing a test given in Iowa? We’re in Florida, remember? Also, the “PACT” you refer to is used in North?? Carolina, I think. It is the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test. Last I heard, they were replacing that with a better test. If you meant the “ACT” test, it originated as a competitor to the SAT, and is given to high school juniors and seniors. Both the SAT and the ACT are college-entry related. What’s your point?

biomanogt, you seem to think that every kid who attends private school is really just an average kid after all, whose high scores are simply trumped up by the school in hopes of keeping the tuition rolling in. Have I read that right?

I spent many years in private schools. Some of these were Catholic schools (and I am not in any way Catholic or even very religious), while others were secular schools designed for kids whose aptitude showed they were above and beyond the average, or who had been hindered by government school rather than helped. Apparently, by your insinuation, the fact that I graduated from college at 19 and have since built a rapidly-growing career in software development is due to my grades being artificially inflated so that my tuition would keep coming in. It apparently has nothing to do with the quality of education I received at those schools, the results of which were obviously faked to keep my parents happy. Is that what you're saying?

Your generalizations and apparent class envy are so insulting to me that it is ridiculous. If you are representative of the typical government school advocate, I need no further evidence to demonstrate why so many of those schools are such abject failures.

I will agree with you, however, that If a child has been gifted with good learning skills and has parents who care deeply and are involved with his or her education, that child has to potential to excel no matter where they are. However, I don't think you should begrudge certain students the ability to choose an education program that helps them learn in a way that is better suited to them. For these students, private or accelerated education may help them become a productive member of society more quickly, more efficiently or in a way more properly suited to them. Whether that's private school, home schooling, et al, no one is exactly the same and different people learn in different ways.

By the way, when I went to private schools, I enrolled in several AP courses, including AP mathematics, science and art history. We also took many state-sponsored standardized tests as well as the PSAT and SAT, on all of which I scored very highly. Our grade point system was also skewed to be much more difficult than any of the other government schools in the state. Were all of those scores trumped up for the benefit of my tuition money as well?

We were by no means "rich" and I attended a very expensive and private school. My parents knew the importance of a good education since they did not receive one growing up.

I thank my parents all the time for paying what they paid because I know I would have been so bored in a public school. They have gotten better in the city where I grew up, but they are still far inferior to the private school I attended.

If you look at my elementary school class most of us graduated from college. My HS class was not as lucky. I chose a much "easier" HS because I didn't care for the people at the "wealthier" school. How stupid of me! LOL, in hindsight I think the wealthier school would have been the better school.

I can tell you from experience that kids in my private school that struggled were not left to die in the back of the room. The teachers pushed them hard! THe parents pushed them harder and hired tutors etc. I just think the whole public school system is over populated with parents and kids that are not held accountable. It's sad.

I just finished grading huge essays and I did not edit. Off to bed for 4 hours. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Why is everyone getting so excited about MEDIOCRITY? Doesn't the fact that scores remain in the mid-50% to mid-60% range "at grade level" bother anyone else but me?

Until scores in the Collier County School District (and, across the state, for that matter) are consistently in the mid- to upper-70% range, we have nothing to celebrate. Our tax dollars are being wasted on a public school system that is not worth what we are paying for it. No one - administrators, teachers, custodians, NO ONE - should expect or deserve a raise for their work until that level of competency can be achieved.

Simply being "average" - which is what these scores are - is no accomplishment. That's why they call it "average". There is no reason - no matter how many excuses that the teachers and parents are going to come up with in response to my post - that the entire School District cannot be perfoming at a higher level.

The system is broken and needs to be fixed. And, the taxpayers shouldn't have to come up with another penny more for anything until it is.

#34: You're the only Commenter that sees things the way I do. The USA needs to boot out the state and national versions of NCLB with the man who foisted them upon us. 255 days to go (unless he bombs Iran and declares martial law here).

The test, the idea of the test being used to show accomplishment and to compare teachers, students, schools, and superintendents, is deeply flawed. The people on both sides of the issue of happy or disappointed at the results should get excited about dumping the whole mess and allowing classrooms to get back to focusing on real material.

Democracy needs an educated electorate, not one that jumps through hoops designed by and for corporate ideals. It needs free speech and argument and protection for minority opinion.

The politics of disbanding public schools because taxes shouldn't have to pay for teachers and schools that don't measure up to the abstract notion of "a higher level" is very dangerous. Those of us who make such pronouncements are making an act of faith in the wrong thing, the measuring stick.

Those who believe in the measuring stick of the FCAT fall right into the camp of those who want to destroy America by whatever means they can. Wielding FCAT scores is no better than wielding box cutters. Maybe both types of people should be strapped, shackled, bound, gagged and renditioned to a black site. Of course that's not very democratic.

Get the terrorists out of our schools. Quit scaring everyone with thrusting that measuring stick around. Down with the FCAT and the politicians and "educators" who support it.

Death and taxes cannot be avoided. Don't worship the measuring stick.

Nekayah - Are you honestly comparing people who support standardized testing in public schools to people who hijack airplanes and crash them into buildings? Are you honestly suggesting that people who support standardized testing in public schools should be sent to Gitmo with suspected terrorists?

Even if you're trying to be sarcastic, that's a pretty extremist position to take...even for you.

If you belive the teachers union more money in their paychecks will improve test scores

Assuming you want your child to go to college, the test of their secondary education is how much they struggle with math and writing in their first couple of years in college.

The next test is whether they can handle analytical courses. Can they construct an argument? Can they detect a fallacy? Can they solve an equation for X, rather than Y?

I teach at the college level. So-called good students from good Michigan suburban schools are in terrible trouble.

Also, be careful when scores go up. It's probably due to aligning curriculum content and timing to the test. It is not due to a better curriculum. Further, there is a lot of teaching to the test going on. My students are insulted when I tell them everything is on the test.

We parents need to take back our schools.

With NCLB,or FCAT, you have to teach to the test.
When the only criteria for the schools are these test results, it seems silly not to prepare solely for these tests.
The problem is, so much time is spent preparing for the tests, there is no time for teaching other subjects.
Just read the outrage from posters here because of the perceived mediocre test scores.It's no wonder private schools do a better job of preparing students for college. They don't have the govt. crawling up their butts worried about what the test scores are going to be.

I went to Barron in the late 80's and it was a great school....Have things really taken such a sharp turn downhill? In my 4 years there I only had 1 "bad" teacher.

Why wasn't Everglades City Schools mentioned? Oh that's right they are CCPS's redheaded step child. The scores from there don't count.

Hello Collier County!
As a proud 4th grade teacher at MES, I needed to give additional praise and recognition to our students. They stepped up to the challenge. Last year we had 59% of students score at a 3.5 or higher on the essay portion which jumped to 83% this year. We scored higher than 24 out of the 28 elementary schools in the district when looking at this statistic. We need to congratulate these students and administrators on working so cohesively. Pat Sanford and Connie Cox have worked diligently to help us with this success and need to be recognized. It's time to take positive notice of Manatee Elementary!

I had 4 kids go through Baron - all did well there! Subsequently they did well in college, and all are now successful in their careers. You reap what you sow, both as parents and students. I am grateful to the teachers all through CCPS who took an interest in my boys and their educations. As to FCAT Writes - when I write for public consumption (except blogging), I usually outline, think, write and revise several times, then edit and complete a final draft. This may take up to several hours to accomplish. Where in real life does is 45 minute extemporaneous piece of writing to a poorly designed topic prompt used?!! This is a poor excuse for a test, and teaching to it, (which is almost necessary) is a poor use of instuctional time, foisted on the system by politicians who know nothing about writing - hence the use of speechwriters!!!!!!!!!!

Of course the 54 seniors at CSN are getting a fabulous education. At $20,000 a pop for tuition, they darn well BETTER be. DUH !!!

Lets stop blaming the teachers. I know many a parent in Naples that do NOTHING to encourage education for their children. Florida is a fast paced place to raise kids. You may send your kid to their friend's house. Do you know anything about their parents? I would NEVER raise a child here. To my shock and horror, I've seen parents sending their 14 yr. old daughter off with 28 yr. old guys, bragging about how mature they are. I had several former co-workers who I know were selling drugs OR doing them with their kids in the house. And what about all the parents addicted to video games? How many of these parents do you think are reading to their children when they are young? So, go on everyone, let's just blame teachers! Schools can only do so much. Not every kid is coming from a functional household. Hopefully, these kids can find a good role model through a teacher and be better influenced.

I apologize to Pat Sanford and Sofia Mucha.
I got caught up in all the doom and gloom posts.
I forgot to CONGRADULATE you both on your wonderful accomplishments.

#40 "Are you honestly comparing people who support standardized testing in public schools to people who hijack airplanes and crash them into buildings?" Yes. Such people have hijacked nearly every classroom in America, most with 30 students in them. These hijackers have crashed them into school buildings all across America.

"Are you honestly suggesting that people who support standardized testing in public schools should be sent to Gitmo with suspected terrorists?" No. As I think my qualifier strongly suggests, I disapprove of black sites as well as Gitmo and Camp X-ray.

But the terrorists in our schools, frequently the gung-ho administrators, need to be tackled and sat upon until they are brought to reason. The measuring stick is a terrorist device. Support Democracy! Support individuality! Down with FCAT (and all the silly post-hoc illogic it spawns).

Ms. Hayes' statement about the drop in high school scores is interesting. Might the drop be because high school kids have figured out the test means nothing to them and they are tired of being tested. Might the drop be due to students who care about education taking flight to non-public schools to escape the craziness caused by the School Board and Company. She fails to mention the first group of 3rd graders who were retained because of low reading scores are in grade 7 right now. The current 8th graders are missing some of the weaker readers right now. To blame the scores on the scheduling issue is quite a stretch. She would do well to spend a week teaching in a high school class.

harley2 - I was wondering if anyone picked up on Hayes' comment regarding the slip in high school scores and the link with school board drama PLEASSEEEEE ! She needs to spend a little time in a high school classroom. How convenient for her to misplace blame. Get ready folks - if the writing scores declined (Lely went from 50% passing to 34%) you can bet the reading scores will be similar. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Lets not be quick to place blame on the students. Think about it - do you know any teen that would be affected by the mess going on over at the Admin building? No, Ms. Hayes, no. Maybe the problem is a little more complicated than that. Good text books are limited - ask your high school student if they have an FCAT writing workbook - all middle school students have them, but they are not used (available)in high school. Better yet, ask your high schooler how they prepared for the test. And before you blame the teacher, ask the teacher what resources and support she/he receives from the district. There's no money for that. Like I said - hold on to your hats folks...the reading scores are coming!

#53 Audrey,

I believe you are right about the reading scores going down. Usually, the writing scores are better than the reading scores, even at our lowest performing schools. It makes sense that the district would use more resources to prepare for the FCAT towards middle school than high school. An 8th grader still has 2 more years of scores to provide (3 if you count science). A 10th grader is at the end of the line. More bang for the buck! Don't blame the teacher ... most are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.

I agree with #53 and #54 - I think this is just a hint of what's to come. What most people don't know, or realize, is that even though 10th graders are at the end-of-the line, their diploma hangs on them passing these tests. If, for example, Lely had only 36% of their 10th graders pass the test, and Golden Gate only 25% pass the test AND as both Audrey and GoIndians say - reading scores are usually worse than the writing scores - well then, Ms. Hayes, how many teachers are you going to need to hire? These failing 10th grade test takers will be forced (by the state) to be placed in remedial classes. Presently, they are forced into reading classes. Writing will soon be a requirement - separate from the present reading passing FCAT score that is a graduation requirement. Science will also be a graduation requirement. Yes, there are loop holes - you can fail the test three times and if you pass the ACT, you get a diploma. I think Ms. Haye's comment, "“There is stuff here to be happy about...." Did she really say, "stuff?" People of Collier County - we are in trouble. The Board has no idea of what goes on in the high schools. They are ignorant of how failing 10th grade FCAT students are served. Parents - if your student failed the 10th grade FCAT in ANY area, call the school and DEMAND to know how students are being prepped. Ask to see the curriculum, the texts, and the resources provided by the district. This alone will enlighten those interested in the bigger picture. It is truly scary. Most of all, it is incredible that this has yet to come to light. If the NDN did a little digging at the secondary level, they might win the Pulitzer.