A roundup of Florida education news from around the state Orange County School Board Member Alicia Farrant joins Gov. Ron DeSantis in Orlando for a news conference discussing book challenges in Florida schools. DeSantis called for reforms to the process, saying “bad actors” have hijacked the system….
The big story: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida is not banning school books.
He does have a problem, though, with activists he says are advancing a narrative that itโs happening. During a Thursday news conference, DeSantis criticized community residents who โobject to every book under the sun,โ along with educators who remove numerous titles from circulation and then blame the state law.
Books with graphic sex do not belong in schools, he said. But that doesnโt mean getting rid of classics just because sex is mentioned, DeSantis continued, suggesting that taking such actions is not in studentsโ best interest.
โIf people are abusing the process to try to muddy the waters, then I think we need to have some reforms,โ he said.
Floridians who have been filing book challenges, and those who have opposed many of them, said a better written law could help resolve the issue. Read more here.
One Orange County School Board member framed the book challenge debate as a battle between good and evil, Florida Politics reports.
Also at the news conference, DeSantis and education commissioner Manny Diaz blasted a Miami-Dade County school for seeking parent permission to let children attend a Black History Month speech. The issue, Diaz said, was much the same โ misinterpretation of state law to perpetuate a false narrative, the Miami Herald reports.
As a retired teacher...I regarded our school climate...as all of our school personnel, as a family...
And with all of the issues of today, that concept is extremely important more than ever…
Principals and Our Administrators…Need to remember that….
And, especially all those Politicians who have never been in our classroom… It really is all about our precious children…
Being together is essential for that love and care that our precious children need in order to feel safe and having the right motivation to learn….
Being that Teacher Today…It’s all About our Precious Children…
๐ John Lennon
#FloridaTeacher๐ School climate…We are a family…
Principals and Administration…Need to remember… And all those Politicians who have never been in our classroom… It’s all about our precious children… ๐ซถ๐ผ๐ชโจ๐
Dearest Ivon…๐จ๐ฆ Thank you for sharing your wisdom… It so inspires me to post in my blog … Thank you so!!! It truly is all about our precious children… ๐ซถ๐ผ๐ช๐๐ง๐ป๐ป๐๐
You are welcome and thank you Janis ๐ป๐จ๐ฆ๐ Being a teacher in today's world is such a challenge and it is about each student we encounter on our journey https://t.co/gLAzvjMsvr
Frank Towers, a U.S. officer who helped liberate 2,500 Jews from a train bound for extermination at the end of World War II…
He spent much of his later years sharing his story
Even contacted some of the people he had helped save, and either met or spoke to more than 200 of them before his death at the age of 99…
“for the sake of humanity”โฆ Power of Teaching, the importance of the study of History, and especially the lessons we must learn, and teach, on the “Holocaust”
teachinghistorymatters.com/2018/06/13/my-โฆ via @marozell
#FloridaTeacher๐ 38 years in the classroom… Retired 8 years ago… 25 years teaching first grade… Children Diverse and from socio economic challenges… They loved learning ! Even when politicians interfere… Our precious children…
Thank you to all of our Teachers of Today… ๐๐ผ๐ซถ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐
I donโt think people outside of education truly understand the level of expectations that are placed on educators, and how exploited educators truly are. pic.twitter.com/afkGNdCyhu
According to our Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida is the Education State…
Florida Department of Education (@EducationFL) Tweeted:
Florida is putting students firstโฆ
Today… September 14, 2021โฆ @GovRonDeSantis announced the end of the FSA, the elimination of Common Core and a plan to provide real-time results for educators, parents and studentsโฆ
Now the Reality...
Our schools are in crisis 2024…All the divisiveness created by this DeSantis government, affecting our children and schools causing many of the critical issues; teacher shortages …Book bans that restrict learning and curriculum issues where our children can not learn our history ….Gun and safety issues…etc..
Our precious children are not getting their needs met…That many may be dealing anxiety and fear…Even hunger due to his lack of expanding Medicaid…
We must Take Florida back…This is not our State’s Election Year, not until 2026!!
However… We can Reelect…
The Team of President and Vice President…Joe Biden and Kamala Harris…For our precious children…
The time is Now…We must make this happen…Our precious children’s future is depending on a Strong Public School Education… Accepting of the Truth of Knowledge… Diversity…Loved and Safe
#FloridaTeacher๐
#VoteBlueForKids
#TakeBackFl
#BidenHarris2024
Can't check out a book with gay characters, but can work an overnight shift the day before a big test… https://t.co/IQcmGI4yA4
— Janis…โฎ๏ธ๐ฆ๐๐ชโจ๐ (@janisexton) December 9, 2023
My Dearest Amany…Rest in Peace…Our precious children… I Declare World Peace ๐๏ธ
My heart grieves… have not heard from Amany @loverAnimalBest since the fight resumed… He wanted to go back to University Now lost all my Dear friends in Gaza๐ Praying for Peace We are One I Declare World Peace ๐๏ธ Everyone together#IDWP๐๏ธ May G-d be with you โฎ๏ธ๐ซถ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ https://t.co/0kHMS7FV7Jpic.twitter.com/nDpDDcd05o
— Janis…โฎ๏ธ๐ฆ๐๐ชโจ๐ (@janisexton) December 9, 2023
Had so hoped for President Biden, Vice President Harris first term…
Along with Secretary of Education…Dr. Miguel Cardona would have all had a better opportunity to provide those much needed resources and programs with implementing policy changes necessary…to provide a strong education for our precious children…
With frustration, we are still waiting, today …
Many of those same issues from many years prior, especially these last four years since, caused by of all the divisiveness and lack of giving , our precious children are still dealing with gun safety, curriculum issues, teacher shortages; may have even gotten worse…