Proposed legislative bills would have negative impact on education
To the editor:
The Florida State Constitution states, ” Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education …”
Florida public schools have a good national ranking, and it’s important to maintain and improve that. The new bills before the Florida Legislature, HB 241/SB 582, if passed, would have a negative impact on Florida public schools. It will change education as we know it, giving parents the ability to opt out of a variety of sensitive topics, or any required course they don’t like, such as science classes, which cover climate change. Parents would be able to exempt their children from classes that lead to an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism and stereotyping.
While no one argues with a parent’s right to teach whatever they like at home, forcing the public school system to allow students to opt in or out of required state-approved classes would essentially be teaching students different curriculums. State Assessment scores would suffer. The ability of some students to score well on SAT and ACT tests for college admission would be undermined. The constitutional provision of a “uniform….high quality” education would be compromised.
All Floridians should be contacting their legislators to vote against these bills, and to ensure the high quality of Florida public education.
Susan McGuire
Bokeelia