A new law in Florida that applies to teachers. (pdf warning) I approve. It has some key points:

The State Board of Education shall waive initial general knowledge, professional education, and subject area examination fees and certification fees for: (d) A retired first responder, which includes a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1), a firefighter as defined in s. 633.102(9), or an emergency medical technician or paramedic as defined in s. 401.23.

It goes on to authorize a sign on bonus to retired first responders and honorably discharged veterans who sign on to be full time teachers for a minimum of two years. In my case, it’s too little, too late, but it may attract some better teachers. I only dread the current leftie woke military members entering education.

It then goes on to authorize teachers to use force in self defense:

(i) Press charges if there is a reason to believe that a crime has been committed on school property, during school sponsored transportation, or during school-sponsored activities.
(j) Use reasonable force, according to standards adopted by the State Board of Education, to protect himself or herself or others from injury.
(2) For purposes of this section, in cases in which a teacher faces litigation or professional practices sanctions for an action taken pursuant to subsection (1), there is a rebuttable presumption that a teacher was taking necessary action to restore or maintain the safety or educational atmosphere of his or her classroom.

That would have been a huge help when I was hung out to dry after being attacked in my classroom. This new law isn’t perfect, but it is obvious that Florida is trying to improve some long standing issues in education.

Categories: Education

3 Comments

Beans · May 31, 2023 at 12:51 pm

It will attract those who are retiring, which is a good thing. More mature, mellower and experienced individuals.

And they’ll bring the military way of training, which will work to help those, like most boys, who don’t do well in group learning sessions and groupthink.

oldvet50 · June 1, 2023 at 5:57 am

Sorry, but the ONLY way I would teach kids is if they were from family or friends in a home-school environment. They can pass all the laws they want, but there are some parents that will bring charges against you for disciplining their precious thug and then its up to a jury of their peers to hang you.

BobF · June 1, 2023 at 9:48 am

I know a retired Marine couple. She was a teacher here in FL and I understand they gave her the “more challenging” groups. Oh, what I’d give to have been a fly on the wall in her classes.

Even with my time in both education and training there is no way in hell I’d teach in today’s environment. Only thing I can think of worse is being a school bus driver.

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