To address teacher shortages, Florida erases the phrase 'teacher shortages'

[Sancho]

https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2025/05/08/address-teacher-shortages-florida-erases-phrase-teacher-shortages-column/

Today I thought we’d take a look at the hot mess that is this state’s Legislature. Since lawmakers were unable to do the one thing they must do — pass a budget — this session is headed into overtime at a cost of about $50,000 a day. But while the budget remains in limbo, lawmakers actually passed some surprisingly solid bills. They also produced some real stinkers. Today we’ll spotlight a few of each.

First, though, I wanted to highlight an issue that flew under the radar — the Legislature’s attempt to deal with the state’s teacher shortage by … wait for it … deleting the words “teacher shortage” from Florida statutes.

Not surprisingly, teachers’ advocates were unimpressed. Andrew Spar, the president of the Florida Education Association, said “lawmakers had a chance to actually do something to address the massive teacher and staff shortage” by doing things like raising salaries in a state that ranks 50th in teacher pay but took a pass.

And Clinton McCracken, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, said lawmakers also bypassed proposals to ease the micromanaging of teachers, concluding that: “Scrubbing ‘teacher shortage’ from the books doesn’t change what’s happening in our state. It just makes it easier for politicians to dodge responsibility.”

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Double plus good?

[Javaman]

15. Hush you and drink your victory gin nt

[Omnipresent]

2. It's not that Republican lawmakers are "Anti woke"...

They’re just “Fast asleep in the dreamland of denial”.

[LatteLady]

3. NC GOP legislature did same with "climate change" and "sea level rise" in 2012

Is there any greater evidence that they have no interest in solving problems? There are lies of commission and lies of omission. Prohibitions on telling the truth are lies of omission. Lie, lie, lie.

[Biophilic]

4. Oh, good grief, how stupid and unserious are they?

[Timeflyer]

5. So typically MAGA Florida. Didn't they also disappear the climate crisis the same way?

Teachers and families with young children already know that Florida is bankrupting the public education system and targeting teachers who dare to teach true American history or make one statement that the right interrupts as "woke." Why would they come where they're not welcome.

[Martin Eden]

12. The EPA is closing offices with the word "climate" in its name

Read about this in a thread about canceling the Energy Star Label for major appliances that meet efficiency standards.

[3catwoman3]

6. This is much like Trump pushing for less COVID testing...

…so there would be fewer cases identified.

[mwmisses4289]

7. Isn't this called hiding your head in the sand?

Geez, how effing stupid.
How about you let teachers teach?
You idiot right wingers who don't want your kids to learn anything? Then build a tower a la rapunzel and lock yourselves in.
Idiots.

[orangecrush]

8. Parody is dead

[Martin Eden]

9. Legislation reflects the values of the party in power

I suspect Florida Republicans do not value public education.

[hildegaard28]

11. They also

Don't value reality.

[Martin Eden]

14. Reality has a liberal bias

As does truth.

[hildegaard28]

10. That's Republicans

For you. Don't like reality? Just erase any mention of its existence. Because if you ignore a problem, it doesn't really exist, right?

[bronxiteforever]

13. Pretty soon the word "hurricane" will be banned in Florida

[hay rick]

16. Why not? It's worked for "climate change."

So far...

[erronis]

17. Might as well cut to the chase. Just get rid of education and teachers! Viola - no teacher shortage!

I know, it's really vwala.

[NCDem47]

18. If we don't talk about it, its not a probelm.

Issue resolved!