Museums Appeal to Commissioner Crist for Social Studies FCAT

May 4, 2001

Mr. Charlie Crist
Commissioner of Education
Florida Department of Education
Plaza 0-8 the Capitol
Tallahassee FL 32399-0400

RE: Social Studies and the FCAT

Dear Commissioner Crist,

As someone who discovered Florida history quite by accident, and then has
worked in the field for over 20 years, I find it incredibly ironic that this
subject is so poorly taught in schools. The reason that teaching Florida
history has such a low priority is because it isn't on the FCAT.

I know you don't mean for schools to teach the test, but that's what
happens. Schools and teachers are judged by their students' performance on
the FCAT, and as a result, what's on the test has become a high priority.
What isn't on the test becomes nonimportant.

So teachers gloss over the minimal curriculum guidelines for teaching
Florida history. They themselves tend to be sadly lacking in their own
knowledge of Florida history. Teaching Florida history without a firm
background is like asking me to tune your car. Sure, I can follow the manual,
but I hope you're not expecting your car to start when I get done. Without
knowledge of Florida's past and the interests that have steered its
development, our children are going to have a difficult time of directing its
future.

Please add Florida history to the FCAT. Its omission was a glaring
oversight and one you can correct.

Sincerely,

Patti Bartlett
Director, Fort Myers Historical Museum