5, 7, 9: Progressives Can't Fall Behind
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| Also listed in: Florida Bloggers | Florida Progressive Coalition |
The fall of right-wing amendments 5, 7, and 9 was a great victory for Florida progressives. Undoubtedly, our public schools, our children, and the people's government are a lot safer today than they were a couple of days ago.
However, we can't forget this was a victory in a defensive battle. Let's also keep in mind that the last pro-education ballot initiative in Florida was the class size amendment, which passed in 2002. Since then, there has been a round-the-clock, constant effort by the far right to undermine the class size amendment, education funding, and public schools overall.
Florida progressives have only been reacting to the right in Florida for most of the decade, rather than going on the offensive. This is unacceptable considering the current state of our public schools.
With the right reeling backward right now on the education issue, now is the time for progressives to seize this important opportunity and start thinking about ways to promote a pro-education agenda. This could include items like making the funding structure for schools more fair to poorer school districts, making standards more clear and accountable (unlike the current FCAT-based system), and/or perhaps mandatory funding for Florida's strugging Pre-K program. It's clear such an ambitious agenda won't pass the completely out of touch legislature, so the main opportunity lay with the voters of Florida, who want good public schools, smart kids, and who detest vouchers.
The small war chests that pro-education groups in Florida had reserved to fight amendments 7 and 9 should be used to gear up for a progressive education push in the 2010 and/or 2012 election cycles. The time is now.
However, we can't forget this was a victory in a defensive battle. Let's also keep in mind that the last pro-education ballot initiative in Florida was the class size amendment, which passed in 2002. Since then, there has been a round-the-clock, constant effort by the far right to undermine the class size amendment, education funding, and public schools overall.
Florida progressives have only been reacting to the right in Florida for most of the decade, rather than going on the offensive. This is unacceptable considering the current state of our public schools.
With the right reeling backward right now on the education issue, now is the time for progressives to seize this important opportunity and start thinking about ways to promote a pro-education agenda. This could include items like making the funding structure for schools more fair to poorer school districts, making standards more clear and accountable (unlike the current FCAT-based system), and/or perhaps mandatory funding for Florida's strugging Pre-K program. It's clear such an ambitious agenda won't pass the completely out of touch legislature, so the main opportunity lay with the voters of Florida, who want good public schools, smart kids, and who detest vouchers.
The small war chests that pro-education groups in Florida had reserved to fight amendments 7 and 9 should be used to gear up for a progressive education push in the 2010 and/or 2012 election cycles. The time is now.
