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What We Learned from MAR Hot Topics & Action Steps

Judi Hayes | Published on 3/13/2023


REVIEW

March 9, 2023 Hot Topics program: “A Thousand Disrespectful Cuts: The State of Public Education in Florida”

By: Judi Hayes

 

Even as Spring Break approaches at its usual breakneck speed, it seems as if everyone has education on their minds these days. The Florida legislature began its session on March 7 with a dizzying array of anti-public education bills to consider. HB1 and SB202 provide for universal vouchers for every student under the guise of “school choice.” HB 1223 expands “Don’t Say Gay” up to 8th grade. HB 999/SB266 eviscerate the intellectual independence of our precious state universities, and SB 256 attempts to break up teachers’ unions.  And that’s just a sampling of the attacks on public education in Florida these days.

 

On Thursday, March 9, the League convened a Hot Topics luncheon/discussion focused on public education entitled “A Thousand Disrespectful Cuts: The State of Public Education in Florida.” Moderator Tammie Fields, Spectrum News 13 Anchor, herself a champion of educators, facilitated this discussion. By the way, Tammie returned to LWVOC Hot Topics after moderating a lively discussion of the ERA and its path forward last fall.

 

Panelists included Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute, Dr. Michael Armbruster, Deputy Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, Clinton McCracken, President of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, and Dr. Jennifer Sandoval, Associate Professor of Communication at UCF.

 

The panelists discussed a variety of topics ranging from the erasure of black history in schools and the banning of books deemed controversial by the fragile governor (who insists that the book bans we can see with our own eyes are a “media hoax”) to the long range effects of attacking intellectual freedom at our state universities. In K-12, Florida now has more than 9,000 teacher vacancies. In the current climate, how can any school system successfully recruit teachers and retain them?  Dr. Armbruster advised that of a 9-item legislative priority list, the top priorities are supporting teachers, teacher salaries and school personnel.

 

More issues include: If faculty are subject to constant post-tenure review as provided for in HB999, they considered, why would any bright professors want to come to Florida? Will these sustained and coordinated attacks on higher education lead to the loss of accreditation for our top-ranked state universities? And what lies in store for the 85% of students who are currently choosing public schools (K-12), if the governor gets his way and replaces the SAT with a Christian nationalist exam - or succeeds in removing ALL Advanced  Placement classes from schools? Our best and brightest students won’t be able to compete with those from other states for admission to top-tier academic institutions, and without adequate in-state options, won’t even be able to complete postgraduate work or secure high-paying jobs. Large companies like Disney, Lockheed, Advent and Orlando Health, and so many more, won’t be able to recruit and hire employees if our public education system is substandard.

 

And that is exactly what’s at stake. Sadaf Knight presented a data-packed slide show explaining how vouchers pull money and resources directly from our already struggling public schools - to the tune of $4 billion dollars. Dr. Sandoval, herself a plaintiff in a lawsuit the ACLU has brought to challenge the “Stop WOKE” act, spoke to the erasure of black and brown voices from our curriculum as the proposed bills demand that only history described in the Declaration of Independence be taught, and that gender studies and minority studies be removed as areas of concentration. Clinton McCracken, the current National Magnet Teacher of the Year who was instrumental in creating an award-winning arts magnet program, warned that “don’t say gay” is expanding to “don’t say THEY,” now that even pronouns - a part of speech! - are under attack as the legislature seeks to harm and erase transgender kids. Removing social and emotional learning from classrooms will have disastrous consequences as marginalized children will not know where to turn for help.

 

Dr. Armbruster shared a heartwarming story of his own daughter, who discovered through her own High School AP classes a propensity for calculus that led her to Georgia Tech and a sought-after career in industrial engineering.  His pride turned bittersweet when he revealed that his daughter and her wife don’t feel welcome in Florida and when it is time to raise a family, they will not be moving to Florida, even at the cost of being close to grandparents, wistfully imagining taking his grandchildren out for pizza in his golf cart. Maybe on vacations, he pondered. He also pointed out that the top concern many have voiced is the teacher shortage and teacher pay. At the end of the day, he said, it’s all about the kids.

 

These education laws have far-reaching consequences for everyone. Whether it’s not getting into a good college, not being able to recruit employees, or keeping families apart geographically, we know that supporting public education is a public good and benefits everyone by providing opportunities.

 

Members’ questions, including one from yours truly, all came from the same place: what can we do?! What can we, as parents and teachers and voters and workers and taxpayers, do to let our lawmakers know that we want a robust, inclusive, and accessible public education for all kids, that respects everyone’s differences and pays teachers a fair wage? Local lawmakers and including some who are  league members like Rep. Anna Eskamani, Sen. Geraldine Thompson, Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, Rep. Rita Harris, Sen. Vic Torres – they are fighting for us, tooth and nail, every day. But with a Republican supermajority and a governor with his sights set on the White House, what else can we do? Organize. Write letters to the editor. Call and email legislators on the committees, House and Senate, who will hear these bills.

  

The panel:

Moderator: Tammie Fields, Spectrum News, host of “A+ Teachers” segment

Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute

Dr. Michael Armbruster, Deputy Superintendent, OCPS

Clinton McCracken, President, Orange County Classroom Teachers Association

Dr. Jennifer Sandoval, Associate Professor of Communication, UCF

 

WATCH the taped version of Hot Topics: A Thousand Disrespectful Cuts on our YouTube Channel.  Don't forget to "Subscribe" to see all our newest videos.  Click below:
https://youtu.be/qFOUOoHspks

LEARN about School Vouchers through a powerpoint presented by Sadaf Knight of Florida Policy Institute:  Click to Download   Also, find out more about the  2023 OCPS State Legislative Platform HERE
 
ACT

Stephanie Vanos , League Education Committee immediate past chair introduced the 1-407 plan. Here is what the plan advises you can do:

1 - Contact Governor DeSantis and let him know your thoughts about the proposed bills.

4 - Email or call 4 additional legislators and do the same

0- Give an educator a hug and thank them for their important work!

7 - Talk to 7 friends and share what you learned today and ask them to share this important information with their networks.

1 407 - it’s easy!
Download talking points and resource links HERE

SEE snapshots taken of MAR Hot Topics in Carol Wonsavage's album here: The State of Public Schools in Florida

SUPPORT our efforts to fight against the attacks against public education. DONATE to LWVOC

PLAN to attend our next "HT Post Event 1:15-2pm" after program.  Past President Charley Williams (shown below) hosted the event across the breezeway in the library.  35 attendees discussed what they heard and began making plans for next steps.  Look for these post Hot Topics events to continue.
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Climate First Bank is our Platinum Sponsor and will be supporting LWVOC Hot Topics events for 2023. Climate First Bank is the world's first FDIC-insured community bank founded to combat the climate crisis. Climate First Bank offers a complete, full-service portfolio of simple and easy-to-use traditional banking products designed to do good for people and the planet. Please follow this link to learn more: climatefirstbank.com