The heavily Republican-controlled Florida Legislature has been hard at work for the last few weeks drafting draconian legislation that would strip teachers of tenure, negate their advanced degrees and length of service for salary consideration and install a merit pay system that would reward results based on test scores rather that how well they teach.
The legislation would also accept new teachers with less than a college education as long as they follow the guidelines of the Florida Dept. of Education and obtain a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or a FDE approved non-accredited school, thereby lowering the standards for teacher certification. If this kind of thinking were to be applied to the medical profession, the kid flipping burgers today could possibly be taking out your appendix in three years without a medical degree or board certification in surgery.
At best it's a ludicrous situation. If it's not okay for other professionals, why is it okay for teachers?
In addition, under this new legislation School Boards would have to comply or risk losing five percent of their funding which would have to be augmented by a property tax assessment. Basically, SR 6 and its companion HR 7189 hold teachers hostage to teaching to the test and reduce School Boards to being merely ATMs.
Florida educators and other concerned parties are not taking this lying down. All over the state, teachers unions and independent public school teachers, as well as PTAs, politicians in opposition, civic activists and concerned citizens are speaking out and social networking their resistance. Several rallies are being held outside Republican State Representatives' offices throughout the state urging them not to pass the bill. The Senate passed HB 6 last week, and if HB 7189 passes the House it is expected that Governor Crist will sign it into law.
Activists were alerted by several Facebook opposition pages that a rally would be held Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 PM outside Rep. Dean Cannon's (R. District 35) office. Over a two hour period, over 120 people came by waving signs at traffic and talking to the local press. Among the demonstrators was Amy Mercado, Cannon's Democratic opponent in the 2010 election. Cannon is slated to be House Speaker in the next term; however, Mercado was cited by the Orlando Sentinel as Cannon's first viable opponent in years. Here's what Mercado had to say.
Chris Spiliotis from Seminole County spoke at length about the legislature's lowering of teacher standards and why the public must support public education. Steve Barnes, a House candidate (District 34) from Seminole County spoke in support of the teachers. Orange County CTA president, Mike Cahill spoke about the bill being bad legislation. Further support came from Leona Rachman, a candidate for Orange County School Board Chair. Orange County voters chose to have a county wide elected chair with tie breaking powers in the last election. Rachman is a very vocal opponent of the pending legislation. The rally ended with the crowd chanting "Nix Bill Six" for several minutes while local TV crews broadcast them live.
This was the first of many Stop SB 6 rallies throughout the state. Opposition is already mounting in every corner of the state. Today's article in the St. Petersburg Times details the groups that are involved, as well as some of the legislators who are being pressured. Republican legislators are in a hard place on this because even though they might want to vote against the legislation they need campaign money that is supplied by Senator John Thrasher, who is also head of the Republican Party in Florida. Thrasher is the sponsor of SB 6 and he also controls the purse strings.
Things could be possibly modified by the US Dept of Education. Florida will not receive any "Race to the Top" funding this round. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has so far been silent on Florida's situation, however, it is thought in some circles that the denial of funding in this round was the Federal Government's way of saying "we're very displeased with you" which is sending them a message to change the legislation although no one has provided any evidence that this was the case. The next Orlando rally, "Seeing Red" will be on Thursday, April 1 at 4:00 PM. The location is the intersection of Mills and Colonial, one of the busiest in Orange County. Attendees are asked to wear red.
Ed Madison: Face to Face: Virtual Teachers Can't Replace the Real Thing
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Crists-Veto-Pen/116405288376873
Get ready, Alabama: Get organized...we're just realizing what hit us. And be aware - the concerns we have are bipartisan! Republican & Democrat, Union & Non-Union, Teacher, Parent, Administrator.... But know you aren't alone. Check out Stop Senate Bill 6 on facebook...we've got your back.
voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/no-child-left-behind/florida-senate-approves-awful.html#_login
Oh..and the remaining 50% of our salary won't go towards retirement.
A MUST read:
Go to FB..Stop Senate Bill 6....discussions..Is this the true agenda for Florida's attack on education?
Florida will be first and then who? Your state? Thanks, Jeb! The gift that keeps on giving.
So what's up with that--did I miss the "motivated by. . ."paragraph?
The fact is...Florida has made great gains in the past 10 years while state funding rates are very low. Search for previous statements by Jeb Bush and Gov. Charlie Crist....this is NOT about how Florida is doing. It is a completely different agenda. Sen. John Thrasher is lovingly referred to as "the Hammer" because of what he decided to do. His best bud? Jeb.
There is something wrong alright.
Any time that names like Chester Finn, Michelle Rhee, the National Council on Teacher Quality, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Enterprise Institute, etc. are involved you have to question why. This is a deliberate attempt to use public funds to privatize and segregate public education. Welcome to the New Gilded Age.
This bill will have teachers incomes fluctuating from year to year, there will be no due process rights, annual contracts only, no tenure, no credential pay, they are even changing the certification process. This brings to mind questions:
How will teachers obtain credit?
How will a state with critical teacher shortages in 6 subject areas attract new teachers?
Already 50% of new teachers leave in the first 5 years; will that percentage increase?
Will the “merit pay†portion of the salary count towards retirement?
Will students get HS credit for a course if they fail the EOC test?
How will schools in economically disadvantaged communities that struggle with lower test scores keep their teachers?
What will happen to the teachable moment as we board a fast paced streamlined curriculum that will leave little time to develop imagination, creativity and exploratory learning?
Our students will become better test takers but not necessarily life long learners.
This bill could rob our students of a well-rounded education.