Florida's educational system is poised to become the latest victim of the right wing wackos that make up the Florida legislature. In an attempt to burnish his right wing street cred, Gov. Charlie Crist may sign his name to the most draconian piece of education legislation in our state since the 1960s. Last night, the Florida House passed it along predictable party lines. Yet, Crist is reconsidering given the massive opposition to the bill! Please read on...
Rian Fike's diariesdo a great job of explaining what is at stake and action items. Please read, recommend, and comment. This is a Florida problem that is poised to go national. With Jeb and Neil fronting these efforts, they will certainly be glad to take their plans for "education" national. Issues like one test in every subject (even art?) to determine teacher compentency and teacher pay are going to turn our schools into testing centers worse than they already are. There will be no financial incentives for teachers to get professional development or higher degrees. There will be one year contracts, so that teachers that have to leave for maternity or illness longer than what is covered by FMLA are going to have to start over.
My parents were public educators in Florida for over 40 years. They both retired about 5 years ago. They were a part of the 1968 Teacher Walkout -- the first teacher strike in the nation -- where 35,000 educators walked out. My father lost his teaching job, although was rehired at another school later. They still talk about that event to this day. The teacher union that they belonged to was instrumental, throughout their careers, for ensuring moderate teacher payraises and teacher contracts.
In the last few days, Gov. Crist has noted that the phone calls, emails, and snail mails to his office have been resoundingly in opposition to Senate Bill 6/House Bill 7189. It's been approximately 6,000 calls, 6,000 emails, and 3500 snail mails to his office AGAINST and 53 FOR.
Today he said that he would take one week to consider his position on the bill. We need to inundate him with a VETO message!
-- If you live, vacation, or have loved ones in Florida, this bill impacts you.
-- If you care about ending the Jeb/Neil Bush education nightmare that is poised to go nation-wide (yes, Florida's just the petri dish) then this bill impacts you.
PLEASE call and email Gov. Charlie Crist TODAY and let him know to VETO Senate Bill 6/House Bill 7189. They have had very nice people answering the phone and taking down our messages, so we need to be sure to be polite. The Governor even echoed a comment made by Rian Fike in his call to the Governor, when he commented about how bad it was when public servants did not listen to the will of the people.
Call: 850-488-7146
Call campaign office: 850-907-1218
Fax: 850-487-0801
Email: charlie.crist@myflorida.com
Snail mail a post card with "VETO SB6":
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001