Voters, tell DeSantis: ‘Stop your steal’
With the takeover of the board of trustees of New College of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has seized control of the curricula of all three levels of education in Florida: elementary, secondary high school and colleges.
In elementary schools, the false flag of gender, race theory and sexuality discussion was met with wringing hands and whimpering. The governor inserted his agenda into school district elections and was met only with “tut-tuts.”
With weak challenge to his first trial balloons, he assaulted a prestigious liberal arts college by giving control to rightwing Christian Nationalists.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, whose congressional district includes all of Manatee and Sarasota counties and part of Hillsborough County, was implored by hundreds of his constituents at a town hall meeting to save Obamacare. In 2017, he voted to kill it.
Women took to the streets with the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe decision in 2022. Only elections stopped the avalanche from anti-abortion legislatures. Voter suppression has been mitigated only by large numbers of people going to the polls.
American historian and author Tim Snyder, in his book “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” warns us about anticipatory obedience, the acceptance of authoritarian actions and that we should defend our institutions.
A manipulated society, gutted of its ability to think critically, will be willing to believe false narratives, conspiracy theories and allow consolidation of power.
Education and voting are our powers against the actions of legislators and governors.
EDUCATION’S VALUE
Re the Jan. 20 story “Florida rejects AP African-American studies course:” The unsigned letter from the Florida Department of Education to the College Board is a broadside against highquality public education. Stating the content of the proposed course is inexplicably “contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value,” demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of educational value and shortchanges students.
The letter is predicated upon an article by Stanley Kurtz in the National Review, suggesting the College Board is a nefarious left-wing organization positioning itself as an unelected national school board taking away states’ and parents’ rights over curriculum. Nothing is further from the truth.
The College Board — originally the College Entrance Examination
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– Alan Sprintz,
Sarasota
Board — was founded in 1900 on the notion that common academic standards would facilitate the expansion of American higher education. The Board has made an important contribution to American education by focusing on testing, research and curriculum development.
Educational value is a matter of perception and, for students and parents, influences college choice. To flatly deny Florida’s students access to this optional course devalues our public education, to everyone’s detriment.
– Kathleen Shea,
Miami
PARK MANAGEMENT
I was sorry to learn that Guy Forchion, the 13-year executive director of Virginia Key Beach Park, was fired by the Miami City Commission. He did a great job leading the park’s restoration from a wasteland to the environmentally important and beautiful place it is today. Just as the commission dismissed the volunteers of the Virginia Key Trust board managing the park, Forchion’s firing appears to be motivated purely by politics and is unjustified.
BOB MCFARLIN
As a volunteer with TREEmendous Miami, I worked closely with him as we planted more than 14,000 trees to restore the maritime hammock and other areas in the park. Always starved for funds, Forchion did a remarkable job of raising money with various projects and events while always simultaneously pushing the park’s restoration and improvement.
Citizens now enjoy the park while its habitat also supports migratory birds and other native fauna, including endangered species such as the American crocodile, sea turtles and manatees. Forchion put a great deal of effort and thought into making this all happen, and it is a shame the park will be deprived of his great leadership.
– Steve Pearson,
Miami
NEW IDEAS
Re the Jan. 20 op-ed by Daniel Cruz Rodriguez, “Florida’s closed primaries muzzle the voices of young, independent voters:” I was inspired by this young adult’s thoughts. Independents do not agree totally with any party, and have ideas of their own.
MONICA R. RICHARDSON
I read the Miami Herald every day as I have for the past 51 years since I’ve lived in Miami. On the front page daily, I see articles about a dictator who is making unilateral decisions about what should and should not be taught in our schools; seating like-minded followers to serve on school boards; changing the curricula of liberal-arts colleges; eliminating the important history and contributions of African Americans; mocking the severity of COVID-19 infections and mask requirements; and putting people in office who not only are incompetent, but will do anything he asks, just as our former president did.
Is this a leader?
No, this is a dictator who might become president in 2024.
I am glad I am in the last quarter of my life, but sorry that children have to grow up thinking thi s is the way a democracy works. No, this is the way narcissistic and ego-maniacal men think — and convince other sheep to follow.
– Alice Ostrove Miller,
Miami Beach
IS IT ON THE LIST?
Gov. DeSantis and his administration have rejected the Advanced Placement course on African-American studies for high school students because it “lacks educational value.”
What’s next? Rejecting the Holocaust?
– Edward Winitz,
Miami
CRITICAL THINKING
I was a sophomore at a small liberal-arts college many years ago, when our professor asked us to choose a controversial topic (fairly benign by today’s standards), choose a side, research the topic and present a convincing argument.
I was a good student and determined to get an “A.”
We handed in our papers. The professor collected them, turned them upside down on his desk and told us our next assignment — write an equally convincing argument supporting the opposite side.
It was one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned: My opinion matters, but only after I’ve done my homework.
This professor taught me not what to think, but how to think, and I’ll forever be grateful for my liberal-arts education.
– Charlotte Miller, North Miami Beach
HIGHLY OFFENSIVE
To Gov. DeSantis:
You and your administration are acting like high school sophomores by sticking your thumbs into the eyes of those who seek our knowledge of history, so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes.
Explain why you chose to ban AP African-American Studies, while not banning those AP history studies of other ethnoAmerican groups.
I am a Polish American, however, I still have a desire to improve my learning about other cultures, including African American.
You and your administration have a warped and sick view of humanity.
– Don Deresz,
Miami