So what’s new in DuhSantistan?

The Times Op-Ed joins. It’s naive to think this will bother state leaders. They come from a represent a movement that thinks the system must be destroyed, that teachers are the problem. Florida now has more and more MAGA parents. They don’t need to be the majority. It only takes a few, if sufficiently zealous, to turn the atmosphere at a school toxic.

The pay isn’t great and the current political climate has infected schools in ways unseen in recent memory. A lot of experienced teachers are fed up with the toxic atmosphere and lack of respect — from parents, from state leaders, from the community in general. Add in a robust jobs market, and it’s hardly surprising that school districts are struggling to attract enough teachers.


It doesn’t help that teachers have also become casualties of our current cultural wars. The rules of what they can say and teach in the classroom keep changing. Parents are empowered, but if every parent tries to force their particular views on a teacher, things aren’t going to end well.

Teachers know more about teaching than most parents. The experienced ones understand what works in the classroom and what doesn’t, but they don’t get enough credit for it. Again, the message is that their expertise doesn’t matter. It doesn’t take long for that to get annoying. And it’s not just current teachers. Anyone considering teaching as a career hears that message, too. “You won’t be valued” is a tough sales pitch for attracting top talent.




Solve teacher shortage with better pay, respect
Solve teacher shortage with better pay, respect - Tampa Bay Times

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Especially when Georgia pays $10k more a year. And Alabama will pay $20k more a year for math and science teachers. Close enough to still see family, but much higher quality of life.

 

His name is being mentioned nationwide. Mission accomplished.

 

DeSantis hasn’t even announced he’s running and is rapidly ascending to Trump-level obsession status.

 

Exactly! Why else would a political message board based in Florida discuss the governor of Florida?

 

I suspect it points to a mounting fear more than anything. My first clue was ‘stan’ at the end of his name.

A positive political performance to point to. Does not take guff from media or critics. Tons more gravitas than Trump. Shaping up as a formidable opponent for the Dems.

 

DeSantis is definitely a big-gov highly partisan Authoritarian. Maybe the biggest big-gov politician of all.

 

I heard he was a big poopy-head too.

 

Nah, you just can’t defend what he’s doing so you’re trying dismiss any criticism by trying to denigrate anyone who dares to speak badly of him.
It’s obsession!
It’s fear!!!

 

Totally disagree with your assertion. Once DeSantis threw his ring into the presidential race hat, it was DeSantis that immediately started governing to the partisan corners - big time. You have to be heavily partisan not to admit that.

Posters are merely responding to DeSantis's blatant partisan actions and "law" making, not the other way around.

 

Never mind DeSantis, Florida becoming amazingly partisan.

 

Exactly. Things like those Martha's Vineyard flights, rounding up poor felons who were told they could vote, and this new anti-vax grand jury thing are the reason people have become so polarized on DeSantis. He is just doing one political stunt after another in an effort to get attention.

 

I wish that DeSantis was anti-vax. Sadly, he’s not. Nobody’s perfect though.

 

I don't know about that. Whether he was being talked about as presidential or not, I think we have posters who would have a problem with him ordering state flags lowered for Rush Limbaugh, for attempting to dictate what companies can or cannot say while training employees or for limiting free speech by UF professors ... that kind of stuff.

 

And it is working, so he will keep doing more of it.

 

Can you imagine how Red FL would be if Floridians liked DeSantis ?

 

And FTR, I've ALWAYS thought he was a thin skinned goober.

 

Yep.

60% of votes cast were for Mr. D