Creationists, climate change deniers and anti-vaccine nuts are gloating. The instructional materials bill that will allow them to gum up the local textbook selection process and bully school boards into compromise passed its final House vote. Representatives approved it 94-25. Meanwhile, the final Senate committee to hear it said yes 16-0.
Now the full Senate will debate SB 1210 and shortly after that vote on it. At least we hope they’ll actually debate it and not rubber stamp it. But the only way that could happen is if you demand they do. Contact every senator you can.
Need some ammunition? Read through our comprehensive Instructional Materials bills ’17Â blog category. Pay special attention to these revealing posts:
- “Nowhere in the material is a balanced discussion of the biblical explanation”
- “I have witnessed children being taught that Global Warming is a realityâ€
Check out the media coverage and op-eds on this bill:
- Orlando Sentinel: Parents may get new way to challenge school textbooks
- Gainesville Sun: Bill Seeks to Hijack Educational Standards
- Tallahassee Democrat:Â Anti-science education bill not benign
- WFTV, Channel 9, Orlando: Lawmakers could make it easier to get textbooks removed from classroom
- Daytona Beach News Journal:Â Bills threaten science education
- Naples Daily News:Â Leon educators say ‘instructional materials’ bill not needed
- Naples Daily News:Â Teaching of evolution, climate change at stake in Byron Donalds’ bill
- Miami New Times:Â “Antiscience” Bill Would Force School Boards to Listen to Silly Complaints About Books
Are you armed and ready to go now? Good. Get to work.
Unfortunately, we now know this bill will pass. It is time for parents, teachers, administrators and community members to work together to ensure that our students have access to instructional materials free from extremist influence. My email is here. I hope that any and all contact me (I am a Collier County parent and also a former instructional materials committee member.) We can assist you in a plan of action to counter the influence of the fringe group that has actually authored this legislation.