I am a public school teacher who is watching our public education system being killed like an insect in the hands of a child. Systematically, the legs are being torn off of the bug one at a time. The abdomen, thorax, and head are all that remain. Next week the plan is to sever more pieces to all but kill this public trust.
A fire needs heat, oxygen, and fuel to burn, the oxygen is being limited and the fuel has become scarce. The flame is weakened.
Even though Senate Bill 6 was vetoed, there are supports from that bill that are being killed in this last session. Systematically the props are disappearing by law.
Look at the headlines of newspapers around the state. Massive lay-offs throughout the state are killing public education. Fuel is being withheld to keep public education ignited and glowing.
I would like to suggest that our state legislators be invited to every high school graduation across the state. Every school should be inviting those leaders who are voting to smash public education into the ground.
Media will be there and cameras will be rolling as these elected officials are put on the spot to speak about the importance of education and the future. Parents and a new batch of voters will be listening. Media will be taping these same people who just kicked all the slats out of district budgets.
This idea must come from the top down! Timing is critical. Make these Jeb-licans look into the eyes of those who were not failed by the system. These are the representatives of the people, who have not been listening to the voters.
Educators didn’t have to follow politics so closely before because we thought we were safe. But public education has been attacked this session. We must bring the politician into our domains and educate them.
Please, get the word out to superintendents to insist high schools invite your representatives to speak at graduations in June. If they decline a speaking engagement, take note for the media.
We are going down for the last time. Now is the time that superintendents must act boldly to help save their districts. November, if not the primaries, are critical to public education.
All other schools should be sending all positive news to the offices of these representatives. All programs should include an e-mail, or better yet, a hand-written invitations to events celebrating our victories.
We have done all of this to ourselves by not keeping our lawmakers informed, and they must be drawn back into the schools so they can make wiser choices in the future, Our children are counting on you!
Please save education as a public trust.
Sincerely,
Carol King
35 year veteran of public education in Florida
1 Comment
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Tangerine, Florida 
I agree, educators must make legislators informed of our schools’ and students’ successes. We must fight this tide of teacher hate. Plus, we must bring attention to the real problems education and teachers face, so reforms are directed at the correct issues. Thanks for writing this open letter.