A.G. Gancarski
The head of Florida’s largest teachers’ union warned Wednesday of disastrous consequences for the union’s 130,000 members if required to teach in classrooms during the pandemic.
Fedrick Ingram, the head of the Florida Education Association, found sympathetic ears on MSNBC Wednesday, talking to host Stephanie Ruhle.
The Florida Education Association filed a lawsuit Monday charging it would violate the state Constitution to reopen schools that are not “safe” and “secure.” The suit, filed in Miami-Dade County, lists several defendants including, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez – all of whom are recognized in their official capacities in the lawsuit.
Even some advocates of reopening wouldn’t send their own flesh and blood into Florida schools as the virus rages.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, the former Governor, said his daughters were planning on “distance learning right now to make sure their children are safe.”
Some Floridians would be in school, Scott added, for a “subsidized meal.”
Ingram said Scott had a “ridiculous assertion that our schools are ready to come back to brick and mortar teaching.”
“Safety and security are embedded in the Florida Constitution,” Ingram said, and reopening would “endanger kids on purpose.”
“We don’t have the funding. We don’t have the infrastructure. And we have no confidence in the way forward,” Ingram said.
“There is a need to open schools fully to ensure the quality and continuity of the educational process, the comprehensive well-being of students and families, and a return to Florida hitting its full economic stride,” the Commissioner’s emergency order states.
Even the state’s chief executive has backed off since issuing the order.
Gov. DeSantis said during a press conference it wasn’t his call. DeSantis asserted the order came from the Department of Education.
Ingram has said his lawsuit is a “reality check.”
“Let’s do a plan that is practical … a phased-in approach,” he pleaded. “We are the epicenter of the world.”
Parents and teachers throughout the state are awaiting resolution as questions linger about sanitation, safety, and virus mitigation.
4 comments
Sonja Fitch
July 22, 2020 at 10:39 am
Good god almighty rain down on these goptrump cult sociopaths Scott Desantis and Rubio. And Yoho what a pathetic excuse for a white man! Curry and Rutherford. More disgusting racist sexist white men. Enough send them to the BUNKER!
Sunny
July 23, 2020 at 8:26 am
Do you understand that this article is about schools opening for the Fall semester?. ..Perhaps you missed school. .and don’t know how to read or understand. …Your comments make no sense whatsoever in the context of responding to this article..One other thing you missed in school, God is capitalize. ..
martin
July 22, 2020 at 4:01 pm
has there ever been a class of employee’s who are more whinny then teachers? I think not.
The doctors, nurses, fire fighters, EMTs, grocery store employee’s, bank employee’s, skilled trades, all go to work everyday and come into contact with multiple others every working day.
I get it. If you don’t want to go to work, than stay home, do not pass go, and do not collect your pay.
Sunny
July 23, 2020 at 8:20 am
Well said…Yes no group in the entire universe belly aches about EVERYTHING more than teachers…I am so over them! ..Agree also, those teachers who choose not to return to the classroom, should not be paid..I don’t care who you think you are, no work, no pay…Let them file for UNEMPLOYMENT. .
As you pointed out, ALL these other work groups SHOW UP FOR WORK EVERYDAY. .Lazy-ass teachers – get lost!!!
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