We’re facing an uphill battle as we fight against the Instructional Materials bills in the Florida legislature. We know these bills, if they become law, will almost guarantee a future fight over evolution and climate change in our classroom textbooks. It’s not just conjecture. We have unambiguous evidence.
The House version sailed through its first two committee stops on 14 to 0 and 12 to 2 votes. It’s frustrating to watch this bill go largely unchallenged and to know our valid arguments are being ignored.
But now is not the time to give up. We need to get louder. And now is your chance.
The House Education committee, the last stop before the bill moves to the full House, is going to consider the bill Thursday at 8 a.m. Call the committee members. Email them. Visit them. Make sure they hear your opposition to this horrible bill. Let them know that:
- HB 989 is unnecessary, since there is already a fair and tested procedure for lodging legitimate complaints about instructional materials;
- HB 989 would be used to launch scientifically unfounded attacks on climate change and evolution — as its supporters acknowledge (see our posts: “Nowhere in the material is a balanced discussion of the biblical explanation” / “I have witnessed children being taught that Global Warming is a reality†/ These dangerous bills need to be disarmed)
- HB 989 would cost local school boards money by forcing them to hire hearing officers to take such complaints seriously; and
- HB 989 would prolong such controversies indefinitely by rescinding the finality of the school board’s decision on complaints.
Here’s the committee member list. How many of them will commit to supporting science education?
Bileca, Michael [R] michael.bileca@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5115
Cortes, Robert “Bob” [R] Bob.Cortes@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5030
Jones, Shevrin D. “Shev” [D] Shevrin.Jones@myfloridahouse.gov(850) 717-5101
Ahern, Larry [R] larry.ahern@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5066
Antone, Bruce [D] bruce.antone@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5046
Asencio, Robert [D] Robert.Asencio@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5118
Brown, Kamia L. [D] Kamia.Brown@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5045
Diaz, Jr., Manny [R] Manny.Diaz@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5103
Donalds, Byron [R] Byron.Donalds@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5080
Latvala, Chris [R] Chris.Latvala@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5067
Lee, Jr., Larry [D] Larry.Lee@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5084
Plasencia, Rene “Coach P” [R] Rene.Plasencia@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5050
Ponder, Mel [R] mel.ponder@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5004
Porter, Elizabeth W. [R] elizabeth.porter@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5010
Raburn, Jake [R] Jake.Raburn@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5057
Russell, Barrington A. “Barry” [D] Barrington.Russell@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5095
Stone, Charlie [R] Charlie.Stone@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5022
Sullivan, Jennifer Mae [R] Jennifer.Sullivan@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5031
