“A Republic, if you can keep it,” Benjamin Franklin’s words echo through history, reminding us of the democratic republic America aspires to be: a nation where informed and engaged citizens lead their communities.
Yet, Florida’s laws mandating a distorted version of history stand in stark contrast to this ideal, preventing students from reaching their fullest potential.
Anti-public education politicians like Gov. DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. have uplifted and championed policies that have only exacerbated the attacks on students’ freedom to learn within Florida’s schools. Policies such as:
- banning AP African American Studies,
- approving Black history curriculum that omits historical facts,
- restricting the instruction of race and racism, and
- anti-public school legislation which aims to further privatize education at the sake of public education.
These policies betray the very principles of equality, opportunity and freedom these decisionmakers (and others like them) pretend to uphold. If we don’t act against policies like this, we are certain to repeat the history Florida is trying hard to hide.
Genesis Robinson, Executive Director for Equal Ground Florida, says good citizens can be formed when we give back and support the collective.
Adora Obi Nweze, NAACP Florida State Conference President and a member of the NAACP’s National Board of Directors, believes the government is not doing anything to help. They both highlight a collective — and deliberate — failure: the government’s draining of public education funds and the ineffectiveness of voucher programs that enrich corporations at the expense of students and communities.
Obi Nweze and Robinson agree that when public schools thrive, we all see and feel the benefits. Conversely, when vouchers drain funds from public schools entire communities suffer.
There is a lesson to learn from investing in the front end rather than the back end. Fully funding public education for our K-12 students today can prevent public money in the future from being used to pay for programs that result from an under-resourced public education system. When public schools thrive, students enjoy improved outcomes. They have better grades, higher attendance, and higher rates of graduation. A well-educated workforce with a stronger sense of community also lays the foundation for a strong economy, an economy those elected constantly tout. Communities can also see a reduction in crime and an overall healthier lifestyle for their citizens.
Instead, politicians want to divert $2,790,276,311 from our public schools for private school vouchers. What could your community schools do with that $2.7 billion?
The fight for quality education is for the future of Florida’s children and communities. It requires a united front from all members of our state- not just from educators who, like Obi Nweze, view teaching as a privilege. The solution lies in our collective power and community engagement at the national, state, and local levels. We must advocate, organize, and be visible—attending school board meetings, sharing stories, and working together to amplify our collective voice.
We all need to adopt the advocacy mindset because, as Robinson says, “We cannot wait for others.” We have the responsibility to act, and the time is now.
Here are four action steps you can take to help advocate for all students in Florida:
- Learn more about the history and modern-day policies allowing segregation in our schools.
- Get involved locally by attending school board meetings and/or joining education advocacy groups in your area, such as Moms for Libros (see more groups on pages 12-14).
- Volunteer to support your community and public schools and bridge the educational divide. For example, is there a youth mentoring group you can join?
- Vote to support candidates who prioritize public education.
A special thank you from FEA to Adora Obi Nweze and Genesis Robinson for their invaluable contributions that helped shape this article.
