In July, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that would allow veterans to become teachers without a bachelor’s degree.
The veterans would have to get a certification and have at least 48 months of active duty military service, and a minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.5 grade point average.
The bill was passed unanimously in the Florida legislature, with all Democrats voting in favor of the legislation.
Even Biden’s Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, did not dismiss the idea out of hand when asked about it.
Keilar on Florida's veteran teachers program: "Do you think this is creative and worth a look?"
Education Sec. Cardona: "I love anything that's going to provide opportunities for those who are looking into the teaching profession." https://t.co/Ep6YjhNLZg pic.twitter.com/Ct8ekl6OGi
— The Hill (@thehill) August 17, 2022
Despite the bill’s widespread support, teacher’s unions, liberal activists, and the media have said that veterans are not sufficiently qualified to be teachers and that the bill is not a proper way to fix the national and statewide teacher shortage.
Top education officials have stressed that this is one of the primary issues for both educators and students alike in the United States.
“I have never seen it this bad,” Dan Domenech, executive director of the School Superintendents Association, said of the teacher shortage. “Right now it’s number one on the list of issues that are concerning school districts … necessity is the mother of invention, and hard-pressed districts are going to have to come up with some solutions.”
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The President of the Florida Education Association dismissed the bill, saying that veterans aren’t qualified to be teachers.
“I think we all appreciate what our military veterans have done for our country in terms of protecting our freedoms both here and abroad,” he said. “But just because you were in the military does not mean you will be a great teacher.” Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, said.
Liberal activists on social media attacked DeSantis’ initiative as well. Some have analogized Florida to ‘Nazi Germany’ for hiring veterans as teachers.
The Diary of Anne Frank has been pulled from Texas public schools. Every teacher has to list all books & get approval to have them.
In Florida public schools the Governor is in charge & is giving veterans with no teaching experience jobs teaching.
Definitely not Nazi Germany.
— The Jewish Ginger Resister (@JewishResister) August 17, 2022
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried called the bill’s passage a continuation of DeSantis’ ‘war on public education’ despite its unanimous support.
NEW: Florida Democrat candidate for governor Nikki Fried comes out against DeSantis' plan to grant Florida veterans temporary teaching licenses while they earn degrees
What Fried calls "DeSantis' war on public education" was passed unanimously in the legislature by both parties pic.twitter.com/4GljrbG5wx
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 16, 2022
Christina Pushaw, now Rapid Response Director for DeSantis’ re-election campaign, pushed back against the idea that Florida would be hiring unqualified veterans to be teachers.
For churnalists who are apparently too lazy to click a link & read the @EducationFL website for 2 minutes, here's a screenshot of the requirements of the teacher certification pathway for veterans. Passed unanimously. No reason to oppose it, unless you are biased against veterans pic.twitter.com/x0G21puz7V
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) August 17, 2022
DeSantis, for his part, said that the media and liberal activists reflexively feel a need to attack him no matter what he does, whether its over license plates or hiring veterans as teachers.
How has activist media found itself criticizing veterans (over license plates, as teachers) and aiding in the narrative supporting elective child surgeries this week? @GovRonDeSantis explains: pic.twitter.com/0DpgGFgt37
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) August 17, 2022
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