Schools should be places of learning and opportunity where students thrive and educators do their jobs without fear, yet we continue to see disturbing incidents of violence against teachers and staff.
The recent attack on a Broward teacher is unacceptable and highlights a growing crisis. Just days before, a campus monitor was spit on while simply trying to do their job. No one should go to work fearing for their safety.
When violence against educators and school staff goes unchecked, it sends a dangerous message that their safety is not a priority. We must have stronger disciplinary policies, clear consequences for violent behavior and a commitment to restoring order and respect in our schools.
Teachers, administrators and support staff are the backbone of our education system. They are someone’s husband, wife, daughter, son, mother or father. They deserve the same protection and respect as any professional in any workplace.
The Legislature has the power to take action. We must stand up for those who stand in front of our classrooms and walk our hallways. Their safety is essential. Let’s make sure they never have to question it again.
Daniel P. Foganholi, Coral Springs
The writer, a member of the state Board of Education, is a former Broward County School Board member.
Remember our history
In 1923, Hitler incited an insurrection against the German government. He was tried, given a slap on the wrist and became a convicted felon. Despite charitable treatment by the judge, he claimed the trial was political persecution and successfully portrayed himself a victim of “corrupt” Social Democrats.
Hitler then cleverly positioned himself as the voice of the common man railing against elites, cultural degeneracy and the establishment, whom he called Marxists. He claimed the education system was indoctrinating children to hate Germany, and promised to return Germany to greatness.
To solidify his base, he masterfully scapegoated minorities for the nation’s problems, exploiting social divisions. Too many Germans took the bait. He became chancellor in 1933 and appointed oligarchs to be economic advisors.
With the working class divided along cultural and ethnic lines, the Nazis shut down unions, abolished strikes and sent trade unionists to prisons and concentration camps. Corporate profits skyrocketed.
Hitler ended birthright citizenship rights of Jews, rounding them up for mass deportations for being in the country illegally. The German press highlighted violence by Jews to convince the public that Jewish immigrants were a danger to real Germans.
Hitler wasted no time dismantling democratic institutions. Loyalty was not just encouraged; it was demanded, and opponents were silenced. By the time his reign was forced to an end by Allied powers, millions were killed in the Holocaust.
Lauri Spector, Deerfield Beach
Destroying NATO
The U.S. and Russia are negotiating and end the war. I believe they’ll agree that Ukraine will have to give up a substantial part of the land that Russia gained in this conflict, and the U.S. and Russia will split up a portion of Ukrainian assets, such as natural resources.
This will destroy NATO, which both Trump and Putin want, apparently. I believe that Asian countries and Australia will turn to China also since they will not believe that they can rely on the U.S. to protect or help them. This will greatly change the current world situation.
Harry Hoffer, Boynton Beach
He has it backwards
Sen. Corey Simon’s bill (SB 166) to end testing requirements for public school graduation reveals an unintended mockery of private schools for their lack of such a standard.
Why would private school parents not want their child’s diploma to reflect the same rigor as do public schools (and by the way, why would they not insist that their child’s teachers have the same qualifications as public counterparts?)
If taxpayer-funded vouchers are used for enrollment in for-profit educational institutions, we should demand that these businesses be held to the same standards, and that their diplomas have equal value.
Simon has it exactly backwards. Public schools should not lower their graduation requirements. Private schools should raise theirs.
Jeff Kleiman, Boynton Beach