Joe Henderson
The Florida Department of Education issued a report addressing what it called Critical Teacher Shortage Areas for the upcoming school year.
The state identified “substantial proportions” of teachers leading classes they aren’t certified to teach. The areas include English, math, general and physical science, reading, English as a second language, and exceptional student education.
That doesn’t look good, especially with classes returning soon across Florida.
But don’t worry. Larry Arnn has a plan to help fix all this.
Arnn is the president of Hillsdale College in Michigan, a small Christian, uber-conservative, liberal-bashing, and politically connected institution.
Arnn has become the education whisperer to Governors across multiple states, including Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Arnn have become besties, and the Governor has repeatedly praised Hillsdale’s approach to education.
“How many places, other than Hillsdale, are actually standing for truth, excellence, and to produce people who will be leaders?” DeSantis said during a speech.
So, pay attention to this next quote. It comes from Arnn, secretly recorded during a talk he gave in Tennessee.
“Here’s a key thing that we’re going to try to do,” Arnn said, as reported by News5 Nashville. “We are going to try to demonstrate that you don’t have to be an expert to educate a child because basically anybody can do it.”
That’s his plan.
But wait, he wasn’t finished.
Arnn also said modern education is based on “enslavement” and that teachers “feel entitled” to manipulate children.
“You will see how education destroys generations of people. It’s devastating. It’s like the plague,” he said.
Let that sink in. The President of a college said education is like the plague.
And this guy has DeSantis’ ear.
So, if anybody can teach, Florida should have no problem filling its classrooms, right? Open the doors and let the recruits come thundering in and take whatever jobs they want.
Why would anyone have to prove they know the subject they’re trying to teach?
Hey, Arnn says, “basically anybody can do it,” so there is no need to bother with all that certification stuff. I’m sure those currently resisting the temptation to leave the profession are second-guessing all that required extra training they took beyond their regular college degree.
Heck, just wing it, or, when in doubt, show a video.
I wonder how the Governor would have felt if “basically anybody” taught his law classes at Harvard?
Teachers across Florida should be incensed by Arnn’s comments. Their value is under attack by people who have no inkling how hard and important their job really is. There’s a critical shortage for the upcoming school year because thousands of teachers throughout the state can’t take this garbage anymore.
Tallahassee has turned teaching into a modern-day Hunger Games. Lawmakers ban books, bully teachers and try to stack school board races with right-wing ideologues. Teaching is a noble profession, but not in the state’s eyes.
DeSantis loves to pepper his speeches on education with words like “wokeness” and “indoctrination.”
And he’s gambling that his head-nodding hear-no-evil crowd will believe anything he says. He might win that battle, but Florida’s teachers and students will be the losers.
20 comments
PeterH
July 27, 2022 at 7:50 pm
WELCOME TO THE DESANTIS FREEDUMB STATE OF FLORIDA
Florida is short 9000 teachers. More are quitting every day in frustration. 50% of Florida’s third graders cannot read.
The Trumpster way to fix this quagmire……. let’s increase the culture war pressure and blame the outcome on Critical Race Theory, woke young Americans, Black Lives Matter and non-existent Marxist.
We’ll have to wait and see DeSantis’s remedy….. the disaster medicine would be to hire unvetted unqualified baby sitters and call it classroom constructive teaching.
Not to worry …. DeSantis’s mindless Republican legislators who live in the DeSantis echo chamber will fix this in a heartbeat.
Floridians have a choice. We can continue to look like every other incompetent red state or we can vote Republicans out of office.
Critical race theory is not Florida’s problem…..REPUBLICANS ARE FLORIDA’S AND AMERICA’S PROBLEM.
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 7:15 am
Despicable, pathetic liar.
You are a ultra liberal extremist.
Weingarten is evil being.
Dems take orders from weingarten and soros. Despicable.
Clearly, DeSantis has improved a a failing school system.
The liberal extremists are concerned.
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 7:37 am
Florida educators have never been treated better.
America’s Greatest Gov, has increased teachers pay twice, with two bonuses!
Unheard of. Educators will vote majority for Gov.
Gov Ron saved kids lives, keeping and opening schools. Parents and jobs were protected. DeSantis rising tide for all.
Ron Ogden
July 27, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Everyday, parents around the world provide the most important basic education to their children, the kind of education without which children will fail to achieve the human excellence that is their birthright. Parents teach the first things, parents teach the best things, parents teach the lessons that children should, and usually will, carry with them all their lives. Public school teachers have their function, to be sure, but they are not magicians who transform their students into adults by themselves or through their own efforts. Yes, public school teachers provide useful, important information, but it is the parents that create the man and the woman–not the public school system. You really need to climb down off of it. Joe. You are descending into a sputtering mess of illogic.
Elliott Offen
July 27, 2022 at 8:35 pm
Too many parents teach their children mind bending, intelligence handicapping religion…and other far right propaganda. If teachers taught pole dancing it would be more valuable than some of the crap taught to kids by their right wing parents. It’s a diverse world…and kids aren’t gonna be prepared for it if parents are teaching their kids to oppose it or not teaching them about it at all.
ScienceBLVR
July 27, 2022 at 8:50 pm
Ahhh, ok, not sure where to start with this. It’s like DeSantis’s pick for our health leader..this defrocked conspiracy theory nut job, Ladapo, as our state’s surgeon general. The war on teachers and public education again..in Florida! And Ron’s post above, the illusionary Donna Reed, Ozzie and Harriet, My Three Sons, fantasy about parents in the world? I don’t think too many of us live in that bubble. At least not public school teachers, anyway.
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 7:10 am
NEA’s weingarten makes $500,000 a year, advocating this status quo system. She’s the CRT advocate. Weingarten has authorized up to $12million for Dums, and $75.00 for Repub. she fought for and advocated for closed schools, children’s suicides are on her desk.
Weingarten is a menace to society.
She makes and passes tacos with dr Jill. Dr Arnn is a healthy alternative
Tom
July 27, 2022 at 9:06 pm
Hey Joe, have you heard of the NEA? Pres. Weingarten? How bout FEA suing to keep schools closed during Covid. America’s Gov. won!
Joe, have you studied inner city school failure?
Schools failing in general. Lack of reading, science and math. U.S. education system ranking has dropped to 23rd in world.
Florida does a good job overall but needs to improve. Joe, if Dr Arn has some ideas so be it. U S education needs improvement. Joe, please don’t defend a lacking school system.
Joe Corsin
July 27, 2022 at 9:14 pm
^ The mind…the mind is just not there.
Tom
July 27, 2022 at 9:28 pm
U r the demented, scurrilous soros Manchurian boot licker.
This is not a discussion for mentally challenged as yourself.
Joe Corsin
July 27, 2022 at 9:44 pm
Soros this and that = antisemitic, neo nazi conspiracy theory.
Tom = horrible human being…needs to be behind bars for the sake of humanity.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
July 27, 2022 at 10:47 pm
Or at least Tom needs to lose the right to vote. Frankly, I’m surprised that he’s even able to figure out how to fill out a ballot.
Impeach Biden
July 28, 2022 at 5:58 am
I would have that same comment for the supposedly 81 million that voted for Jimmy Carter 2. I could also say the same for those that continue to vote for the squad, Hank Johnson, Elizabeth Warren, Maxine Waters, etc, etc. let me also shame the state of Delaware for voting Biden six times for a total of 36 years as a U.S. Senator. Lots and lots of “BLUE” dummies.
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 8:10 am
Thanks to PUD, Soros lickers such as fake moniker and corsin-alex, the FP legend lives.
As liberal J D says, I am the click bait, must read!
LMAO, when morons such as fake moniker call for my vote to be taken.
What a preposterous notion. Just more fascism espoused. Great example as the FP legend continues.
Tom
July 30, 2022 at 11:29 pm
LMAO
Wah. Tom Is horrible.
Wah, lose his vote. Wah!
You Soros Manchurian morons.
How ignorant and stupid can you be, combined you are 5 yrs old.
PeterH
July 28, 2022 at 1:36 am
Here’s a “woke” movie from India viewable on Netflix streaming. Teachers and parents (and Governors) can learn. Hopefully Florida will wake up!
Must see this film:
Taare Zameen Par
Tom
July 30, 2022 at 11:24 pm
Here’s a joke, not woke.
Peter h, just a moron.
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 5:19 am
Fascists, racists, scurrilous, demented soros manchurians, no brain just talking points from open society top office.
LMAO, I am TJ’s legend that boils Dem, Dum Manchurian asses.
Yes, to be clear Alex -corsin and fake moniker, I crush you and your scum of the earth happily.
U should both stop the incest, unhealthy.
Please defend the status quo, as inner city no education. America’s greatest Gov expanded school voucher program, for poor and minorities.
Rising tide for all per Gov, tacos for you, fake moniker and Joe H, from Biden, Harris & Dr Jill. LMAO. Your boils are showing. Drop mic!!
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 5:26 am
Corsin Alex, kicking your ass and any other fake Manchurian all over FP. Well established.
You can’t stand with me, I am FP legend!
U gotta get up extra early, stay up extra late.
The legend of all times!
Tom
July 28, 2022 at 8:42 am
America’s economy is officially in Biden’s recession. 50 House seats flip to GOP, Senate 6.
Enjoy Manchurian soros boot lickers, riddle me this one. LMAO. Amerucss Gov, rising tide for all.
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