OPINION: Florida schools need to get their priorities right
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “war on woke” is nothing new in Florida.
Since 2022, DeSantis has attempted to eliminate ideas he considers “woke” and created laws to enforce that.
It has been tough to see these discriminatory acts impact school districts and universities alike.
But recently, it hit me close to home.
Related: USF students visit Florida Capitol, advocate for campus issues
Earlier this month, at my former high school, Satellite High School in Satellite Beach, advanced placement literature teacher Melissa Calhoun was denied a contract renewal for using a student’s preferred name without parental consent.
The Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the Don’t Say Gay Law, was cited as the reason for her firing.
When I first read an article detailing her firing, I couldn’t believe it. I felt like it was no different than if my teachers had called me “Liv” instead of Olivia.
I am ashamed and disappointed in my old high school. I did not have her as a teacher myself, but many of my friends did. I have heard countless fond stories of her through the years.
No time was wasted kicking a beloved teacher out the door to make room for bigotry. These are strong, harmful messages being sent from the top and upheld by Florida schools.
It is not in Satellite’s best interest either. People everywhere realize the importance of supportive teachers, such as Calhoun. A petition to reinstate her has garnered over 54,000 signatures.
These actions signal that schools don’t mind discarding valuable teachers who work to incorporate inclusivity in classrooms.
It’s not like these anti-woke cutbacks and laws are helping the education system anyway.
Math and reading levels of students in Florida continue to decline and yet Florida schools and legislators are more concerned about passing and enforcing anti-trans bathroom laws.
And Florida is one of the top states in the country to receive violent school threats. Yet, school administrations have enough time to ban over 700 books in school systems instead.
Related: OPINION: Student activism at USF matters. Here’s why.
They are too focused on these non-issues to offer nothing more than half-hearted pats on the back in the face of tragedies.
It is disheartening to see USF participate in these exclusionary acts, too.
With USF’s removal of DEI information sites and pushing LGBTQ+ related events, such as the Lavender Gala, to the sidelines, we are just another Florida school erasing those who do not fit selfish visions.
Florida has been cutting DEI programs under the guise that they are wasteful and “discriminatory.”
It only further shows their goal to create a restrictive educational slate devoid of differences.
We deserve to feel heard about our concerns instead of being ignored. We deserve to feel valued in schools.
When will it be time to put students first again?
More Stories
OPINION: USF should follow Harvard in self-allocating research funds
Since President Donald Trump’s first day in his second term, he has signed 152 executive orders, many of which affect higher education. Trump’s policies are getting out of hand, impacting key resources that colleges are meant to offer. More specifically, medical research is on the chopping block as Trump decides to retaliate against schools that […]
OPINION: A recap of the 2024-25 USF school year
Final exams are out of the way, the backpack is shut in the closet and the spring semester is finally over. Session A of summer classes is looming, but that isn’t my problem yet. It’s been a long school year. There’s been a lot of news to keep up with, and if you’re not an […]
OPINION: Getting public records at USF is too difficult
Between budget cuts, a crackdown on immigration and pushback on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, USF is participating in a slew of changes it won’t brag about. Without public records, tuition-paying students, corporate donors and university employees may not know what programs and procedures the university is participating in. But getting my hands on these […]
OPINION: USF students, add these songs to your summer playlist
If there is one thing I pride myself on, it is my ability to create a good playlist. Making a playlist is an artform that many can do, but little can master. It’s about meticulously selecting songs to curate the perfect combination of them. For my summer playlists, it is important I have a good […]
OPINION: USF’s international students deserve better
USF used to be so proud of its diversity and of its contributions to building an equitable society. These are the things USF is supposed to stand for. But right now, USF is purging DEI-related content, limiting student activism and worst of all, University Police is planning to partner with ICE, as a public records […]
OPINION: Bring back USF’s Haven Clinic
Everyone should be allowed to be their true, authentic selves. But it’s difficult to do so when you are not given the right accessibility. The World Health Organization defines gender-affirmative health care as “any single or combination of a number of social, psychological, behavioral or medical (including hormonal treatment or surgery) interventions designed to support […]