January 31st, 2006 — The Campaign
Online donations are now accepted on Zimmermann2006.com! If you would like to donate to Carl Zimmermann’s campaign - all you need to do is click on the “Click and Pledge” graphic on the right hand menu. There is also a text link on the Donations page that will take you to our online donation form. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Cards are all supported…
Remember that donations are limited to a maximum of 500 dollars. There is no minimum amount and every little bit helps…
January 31st, 2006 — Carl in the News, In the News
The St. Petersburg Times ran an article on the District 48 Race this morning, to all new visitors: Welcome to the Zimmermann 2006 web site. The site has been completely retooled from it’s previous incarnation (which I would link to here but it will simply re-direct you back to this site) and still is a work in progress — but that is the truth for campaigns in general… They are living, breathing things that are always changing and adapting.
You can find links to Carl’s biography, his stance on certain issues and his resumé on the left hand menu. Contact and volunteer links are also included for you if you have a question on any number of topics stances on an issue, media inquiries and what not) or would like to volunteer to help out.
January 19th, 2006 — Education, In the News
The Vatican has gone so far as to state in recent days that Intelligent Design “is not science and teaching it alongside evolutionary theory in classrooms only creates confusion.”
All of this comes on the heels of Governor Jeb Bush’s declaration last month that we should take evolution out of our science standards. The debate rages on in our schools and our government while citizens and courts have both ruled (by vote and by decree) against the masked-creationism being taught in public schools.
Carl has expressed views on the matter several months ago Continue reading →
January 16th, 2006 — Speeches, The Campaign
The following is a speech that Carl gave to the the Greater Democratic Club Dinner
Meeting this past Thursday…
Fellow Democrats, it’s an exciting time to be a Democrat. It’s even more exciting to be a candidate running on the Democratic ticket.
As a teacher, the best news that I have heard in a long time was the decision by the Florida Supreme Court to throw out Jeb Bush’s voucher program. Unfortunately, it will take a change in leadership to reform the unfair accountability system (FCAT) imposed by Jeb Bush and his Republican dominated legislature. Let us hope that the door will be open to eventually eliminate the FCAT, a test that has done more to destroy schools than it could ever have done to help.
Just like every Republican led educational experiment, FCAT has been a dismal failure.
In the twenty-two years that I have been teaching, things have never been worse. Graduation rates are at 50% - - - the lowest in the nation. Teacher and student morale across the State has never been lower. Few students enjoy school anymore, and that is sad.
You cannot keep slamming a child’s head into a book and think they’re learning. We need to find ways to account for our children’s progress without torpedoing their self-esteem in the process. Not everybody learns the same way. Not everybody does well on tests. And not everyone is going to college. Out of all the incoming high school freshmen, only 20% will ever get a four-year degree, and we are doing nothing to prepare the other 80% for a successful future.
The Republicans have had their chance; it is now time for the Democrats to step up to the plate and make the changes that Florida voters are demanding such as smaller classroom size and better ways of accountability for our students, teachers, administrators, and school districts.
Learning should be exciting, enjoyable, and life changing. We need to get back to trusting our teachers to take our children on a journey, an adventure that opens up the possibilities of what their futures can hold. We need to let our children dream again of what may be and what they want to be.
January 5th, 2006 — The Campaign
Hi folks, this is the new Administrator of Carl’s online campaign… The site’s been re-designed a tad as some may notice. Firefox users will be able to view the entirety of the site (which wasn’t possible in the old design) and there is a special email form if you wish to contact the campaign.
We hope to have online donations up and running soon, and other goodies will be presented in the near future. Check back with us often to see what’s new or sign up for our newsletter by typing in your email address in the right menu bar.
