Florida will be short over 9,000 teachers this fall.

Except for the snark, I actually don’t hate what you’ve said.

 

Regardless if you want churches involved or not you're going to have religious people of all religions involved. Being a member of a youth group doesn't mean the group has a religious agenda even when members are practitioners of faith.

That said churches are a great resource and offer more than sanctuary, food banks and shelters.

 

No state is pushing anything like what you insinuate. You lose credibility when make ridiculous claims like you did. It is complete hysteria…

 

Help me understand because maybe I'm not getting it. Are you saying that parents (and to a lesser extent students) shouldn't have some say in the curriculum? I get not letting the inmates run the asylum but there should be some interaction here, no?

EDIT: COMPLETELY agree with letting the teachers and the school itself control the classroom environment or course.

 

Personally, I agree with you on the example. But to play a little Devil's Advocate, why wouldn't that be up to the individual district when they meet to set the curriculums? If a majority of parents want that in the curriculum, as the taxpayers for that district shouldn't they have a voice there?

 

Haha surrreee.

Or it could be because teachers are paid crap. 41-45k is a joke.
Teachers deal with parents blaming them for a failed student these days. It’s part of the problem with our society these days.

 

My sister-in-law just told me that Bay County schools just gave their teachers 15 to 20% raises. My other sister-in-law in PC has been teaching there for almost 40 years. Maybe she'll finally crack the $50k barrier.

 

No. A vocal minority like the screaming nutjobs at all those mask hearings? Are yiu gonna have a vote? When did this crap start...the crt boogeyman. I remember now. Parents have no clue about curriculum and lesson plans. Geez.

 

Of course you take my question to the fringes and extreme. People by and large tend to be reasonable. I'm not talking about the fringes on either side. And yes, as the parent of a daughter going into HS I absolutely would want a say in what she's taught (I'm a staunch STEM supporter and I'm cool with the IB curriculum as a whole and the electives offered).

And can you please translate what "crt boogeyman" is?

 

Is the average teacher salary higher than the average Bachelors degree in the state of Florida?

I posted a link to back up my post. You posted some emotional rant that has nothing to do with the average teacher's salary in the state of Florida.

 

Critical race theory. Pretty sure a smart guy like you knew exactly what I meant. And when you mention... have a say...you mean asking what is taught vs dictating curriculum. You can send your daughter anywhere. You as a parent don't dictate curriculum no matter how much you stomp your feet. You would have to give every parent an equal voice. That's not realistic and you know it. But I demand my daughter learn more about xyz...I'd laugh in your face.

Edit: A teacher wouldn't laugh in your face like ne but they should say the curriculum is developed with your daughters best interest going forward. Thank you

 

Honestly had no idea where you were going on "crt" which is why I asked. If I didn't know any better, I'd question if you were calling me a racist for wanting to be involved in my daughter's education. Now THAT will cause problems and would end this discussion immediately because I'm not nor have I ever been such. I have no problem with it being taught as long as the emphasis is on (as the name implies) critical thinking. And I frankly couldn't give a damn about the politics surrounding it. Almost anything can be value added if it's planned and executed correctly.

And no I can't send my daughter anywhere. I don't have the money for a private school. So instead I was invested in her education as far as helping with homework, have had multiple conversations with her teachers and school administrators over the years as far as the best ways to maximize her learning potential. And fortunately, she intelligent enough and had enough of a work ethic and focus to get admitted to the IB program. I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't been an involved parent, that wouldn't have been the case. To quote a famous hockey coach, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

 

It’s apparent that it’s been awhile since your kids were in school. Every school maintains a website, sends out email blasts, and posts grades weekly.

School districts themselves also maintain websites and send emails and texts. If a parent is uninformed, that’s on THEM. This goes back to the three legged stool analogy, you want the onus disproportionately on one leg.

To another post of yours, teachers have to grade their own assignments, not parents or church groups or whomever. It’s a matter of student privacy.

 

I have no problem with that and it sounds like you are a great parent. I think it is beyond awesome. My point still stands that you aren't changing what is taught. Your communication with the teachers on how to maximize your daughter's skills. Great. Too bad all parents aren't like you.

 

Appreciate it, but I think we're still somewhat "misaligned" here. It sounds like you're keying on specific "hot button issues" (e.g., CRT now that I know what that means, creationism vs evolutionism). I think that most alternative viewpoints, within reason, have validity and would argue for them getting at least some fraction of time to be discussed. And by "within reason" I mean I would discount the truly bizarre (e.g., Scientology or Pastafarianism) and would at least put some wisdom to when things are rolled in (e.g., 1st and 2nd graders don't need any kind of sex ed classes)

I'm looking at the overall curriculum in a more general sense (e.g., requirements in the sciences, arts and humanities). For example, as much as I enjoy sports I think it's a travesty that whole departments get axed in the name of the athletic budget.

 

The only reason I brought up crt was because prior to that boogeyman...parents weren't up in arms calling teachers groomers and accusing them of indoctrinated kids. It was a right wing boogeyman that has spilled over into "parents should have a say in what is taught". No they shouldn't. There are experts for that. Make sense yet? Not being sarcastic but truly asking

 

This would potentially open up some really messy cans of worms and thankfully, is not how curriculum decisions are made.

 

I understand what you're saying. Maybe I can be clearer that it boils down on my end to a trust issue. I don't particularly care about specific "boogeymen" on either side of the aisle, but I also won't blindly trust some "expert" for the education of my child without at least a conversation that makes me feel comfortable enough that they know what they're doing.

 

Not everything rises to the level of "up in arms." This goes for topics as well as community responses. And what if the so-called "experts" are putting forth what amounts to "white-washing?" Would you not take issue with that as a community member against the "experts?" Or should you be expected to shut up and take it? Feedback is important, even the experts need to have checks and balances.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS