“Rather than facing the problem head on, DeSantis’ solution not only feeds school’s teachers who lack a “talent” for teaching but lack the           basic ability to do so. “

  Earlier this summer, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a bill passed by the Florida Legislature authorizing approval for former military service members to teach in classrooms. All that is required of veterans in order to take advantage of this opportunity is a minimum of 4 years of military service with honorable/medical discharge, 60 college credit hours with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and a passing score on a Florida subject area examination. More importantly, what is not required of them is a bachelor’s degree, a teaching certificate or any student teaching experience.  

   Given that my father served 25 years as a Marine, I heartily support the military and appreciate all they do to protect our freedom and security. I also value special employment programs for service members transitioning out of the military. I do not however believe this justifies allowing veterans to instruct children under such permissive requirements. What I do believe is necessary to consider is whether we are doing a disservice to both the children and the veterans, in addition to understanding why this drastic measure is needed in the first place.  

   While being successful on a battlefield requires long, intense training, it is by no means the same type of training a teacher receives before formally entering a classroom. In order for someone to receive a teaching certificate, he or she must have a bachelor’s degree or higher, complete a state-approved teacher preparation program, complete a student teaching experience and pass a general knowledge and skills exam. During this time, teachers not only receive a full college education, enabling them to put forth more knowledge to their students, but they also develop an understanding of how people learn and how to best teach them. This goes even further than just understanding teaching theories; teachers understand and recognize various influences on student learning abilities and develop the essential skill set required for classroom management.  

   Furthermore, I have a hard time coming to terms with the possible lack of educational difference between students and potential teachers. Many high school seniors, by the time they graduate, can have the same associate degree education level through merely dual enrollment classes, as the same people we are trusting to prepare us for AP exams and give us insight into new subject matters. Similarly, I hope that whoever is teaching me has some background knowledge or enough experience teaching the particular subject matter to the extent that they can provide us with a broader scope of information than what is merely encapsulated in a textbook. I am perfectly capable of reading a textbook on my own, and if I’m not gaining anything extra from in-class instruction, I can envision teaching becoming just a step up from babysitting.  

   Aside from just why this new bill doesn’t work, it is crucial to distinguish the root cause of its passing. When defending the new Senate Bill, DeSantis made the comment that it contributed to the efforts to gain more “talent” in classrooms. However, I believe DeSantis is mistaken is assuming talent never existed in schools. Instead, he is ignoring the fact teachers are leaving the profession due to a lack of support, harsh workload and insufficient pay. Rather than facing the problem head on, DeSantis’ solution not only feeds school’s teachers who lack a “talent” for teaching but lack the basic ability to do so.  

   While it could potentially be a great experience for students and vets if veterans could obtain jobs in school systems, this bill does not have education’s best interest at heart. If successfully integrating prior service members into classrooms was really the main goal, a program that makes it easier for veterans to receive a teaching license would be much more beneficial. Additionally, ensuring prospective applicants at least have a bachelor’s degree reaffirms the value of education to the students and community.