Every Vote Counts

 I stopped watching daily news a long time ago. I began to strongly dislike the bias and opinions I saw in increasing numbers. I remember thinking I don't need to hear anyone's opinion on what is happening - I just want facts, or I can research figure it own on my own. I still catch glimpses of news - I am not an escapist. I don't watch movies or television often; I just don't feel the need to be entertained in that manner. I read a lot (both fiction and non-fiction) and I watch documentaries if I feel the need for a bit of distraction or information. I try to not become swayed by general opinion or by the loudest voice in the room.

I was raised to believe that every vote counts, and I try to participate thoughtfully in every election. When I was in high school we were encouraged to register to vote so we could participate in the election process as soon as we turned 18. I remember talking to my parents - I was not sure if I should be a republican or a democrat, but I registered as they were at the time, and I have never felt the need to change it. I vote for who I believe is the best candidate, not for the party itself. Our country is so divided by parties and blanket statements of each party, and I choose not to participate in conversations on the topic. I bring it up now because it fits my mood about the current state of affairs - and about the upcoming election next Tuesday, August 23. 

I am an educator in Hillsborough County. We are being encouraged to vote yes on a sales tax increase which is ear-marked for education purposes. I would love higher wages - but I will not vote for this tax. I am also a taxpayer in the same county. I do not need higher taxes in order to be granted higher wages - that seems counter-intuitive to me. What I would like to see is county money - received from the county, state and federal government spent more wisely. I would like to know why education in Florida is ranked among the lowest in the country, and why teachers wages are in the same category. I would like to know and understand why our county spends so much money on this program and that program, and mandates that teachers learn, grow, teach more and more in a manner which is dictated; which is deemed the best, the most proven, cutting edge method. Just when one method is adopted and in place, another comes along to replace the old. The amount of wasted books, technology, and materials is appalling. There is little autonomy in Florida public schools these days. Schools are rigid and non-stop. There is little time for anything not academic, and that makes me sad. I remember Kindergarten and cutting, pasting, reading times, singing songs, listening to rhymes. There was play time, inside and out, and there was joy. But that is a topic for another time; I believe our education system has been politicized and is broken. I do not know the answer to fix it, but I do believe that those making the rules, pushing for tax increases, and more parental involvement in the choices for all children - not just their own; I believe this to be misguided and leading to further devalue of education. It, to me, speaks of violation of our First Amendments granted under our own United States Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I normally do not share political posts, or even ever write them. Today I am haunted and compelled. Last night I read an article from WFLA (a Tampa News Station). The headline states "Florida is the place where woke goes to die". I thought I would be sick at the contents of the article. In it, Governor DeSantis said many things that are so strong; that children will not be indoctrined in Florida, and that ideology will not be tolerated. He blamed the teacher shortage on poor education in Florida Universities. He said that teachers are not being taught right or well how to be teachers, despite the state's efforts to raise teacher salaries; the problem is teachers may perform well in education classrooms, but that is not the real world. There is so much in the article that has stayed with me the last 24 hours. This is the governor of Florida; a man who is also a presidential hopeful for the election in 2024. 

To add to the fear and sickness inside of me; there is a bill in the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) now, called Bill 1467. In it is a call for parent work group members to develop online training for School Library Media. Why is this important? One of Governor DeSantis beliefs is putting more power in the parents for their children's education. As a trained, certified, degreed Librarian this is telling me that parents opinions are far more important than my actual knowledge and my training. Imagine telling a doctor that hey, your education doesn't count; lets get a random group of parents involved and they can order the right one-sized fits all medicine; that will solve the problem. Insert that same phrase in just about any professional walk of life; lets call to action and let parents decide for everybody - your education, training and experience have little meaning. In a nutshell, this bill is saying that these committee parents opinion is enough to correctly select reading materials based on their own opinions of right and wrong. There is a lot of darkness under this call to action. Each parent has every right to say I don't want my child to read this book or that book. But that same parent should never, ever have the right to decide that for all children in the state of Florida. The darkness is that we all want our First Amendment rights protected, and not only in the way we believe is the right way to speak, think, or act. Part of who we are as American's has always been a melting pot of ideas, and cultures and beliefs. This call to action is a covert action to exclude people who are considered undesirable because of race, religion, or sexual orientation. It is a devalue to education, to the state, to librarians - most especially, to the children.