Restoring Local Control In The "Screwals"

Written by David DiCrescenzo on . Posted in Readers' Opinions

Publisher’s Note:  I received the following “Letter to the editor” from a reader and I totally understand the need for such a bill.  However, without the binding over-sight and hands on scrutiny of all text books and curricula by individual parents and parent committees, much of what is deemed acceptable is actually designed to indoctrinate our precious children.  

Case in point is item D which says “Be accurate and factual.”  The problem with a broad statement like that is what one parent finds “accurate and factual” another may rightly find antithetical to his or her point of view and contradict what the child is taught at home.

In any case, we owe it to our children to do much better than we have been in both the public and private school systems nationwide.    

Letter To The Editor:  During a recent delegation meeting in Vero Beach and Melbourne, the subject of restoring local control in education was addressed by several presenters. One of our legislators asked the question, "What does 'local control' mean?" 

The answer to that question and the remedy to the current lack of local control, are addressed in the proposed legislation outlined below. As a parent of 6 children and a grandparent of 7, I am deeply concerned about the content of the educational materials being used in our classrooms, and ensuring the highest possible standards of education, not only for my children and grandchildren, but for all Florida children.

Our children and grandchildren deserve the highest quality education which unleashes the individual learning potential of each child.

This past week Florida Representative Byron Donalds of Collier and Hendry Counties, and Past Senate President and current senator in Hillsborough County Tom Lee filed Instructional Materials companion bills SB 1210 and HB 989.

When passed into law, this Instructional Materials bill will restore local control of curriculum to each school district, give a meaningful voice to parents and the local community in the selection process for instructional materials, and require instructional materials used in the classroom meet the following criteria: 

a. Be research-based, and proven effective in supporting student learning

b. Provide a non-inflammatory, objective, and balanced viewpoint on issues

c. Be appropriate to the students’ ages and varying levels of learning

d. Be accurate and factual

e. Be of acceptable technical quality

f. Shall strictly adhere to the requirements of Florida Statute 1003.42(2) US Constitutional Founding values and principles 

g. Not contain pornography or sexually explicit content as is otherwise prohibited by Florida Statute. 847.012(3).

These common sense proposals state that textbook and online providers of materials used to teach our children “shall” comply with these seven criteria.  

This is the least we should do to protect our children from the beneficiaries of invasive, expensive and substandard materials used in the classroom and in testing methods. It will also go a long way toward ensuring that our children are prepared for a successful future in accordance with their unique and individual gifts and talents.

Lamarre N.

Where has being moderate gotten us?

Written by Don Heck on . Posted in Readers' Opinions

Publisher's note:  Mr. Heck is very much the guy next door.  He goes to work everyday, minds his own business, and takes care of his family; he is also very acutely aware of what is happening in America.  I have to say that when he writes, he tends to be a bit 'colorful,' however that stems from the same visceral angst shared by many patriots, not a gratuitous need for 'colorful' language.

Anyway, without taking away from his very pointed message, I replaced some of the 'vernacular' to suit my family oriented readership.  Without a doubt, Mr. Heck has stated what a lot of Americans are feeling.

Don Heck:  OKAY, WHERE ARE WE AND WHERE EXACTLY HAS MODERATION GOT US?

I previously "warned" everyone that I was going to make a strong statement in order to address some serious issues, and I fully intend to live up to that promise.  Furthermore, I have no intention of making an apology of any kind, so don't bother asking for one. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen, because this statement is from my kitchen, and I'm not forcing you to read it anyway.

In addition, let it be known, I'm writing this in small paragraphs, so it's easy for liberals to read, even though those dopes never like the way I do anything anyway.

SO WHO IS THIS MESSAGE INTENDED FOR?

Well I'm so glad you asked.  It's intended for all you so-called Republican moderates and you moderate liberal Democrats, and Independents, as well.  It is also directed at those folks that claim they're conservative but don't realize they've been brain washed and duped into falling for all this "radical extremist" nonsense and think they have to "go along to get along," and meet somewhere in the middle in order to SLOW DOWN this move toward socialism and communism. Now I know full well that I'm not going to get through to the "full blown liberals" in any way, shape or form, so this message is NOT directed at them, since they're way too dumb and busy sucking on the toes of Obasturd and this commie administration, as well as smoking their weed and getting higher than a kite. 

AND THE MESSAGE IS...