>>. >> GOOD MORNING, GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US, I’M MICHAEL PUTNEY.
>> I’M GLENNA MILBERG, WHAT A
DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES, THAT IS
HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THE MIAMI
DADE SCHOOL BOARD TO REVERSE ITS
DECISION TO REMOVE A TEXT BOOK
ABOUT SEX HEALTH EDUCATION BASED
ON A NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS FROM
PATIENTS.
BUT THEN ANOTHER PETITION BY
PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS GARNERED
THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES IN
SUPPORT OF BRINGING BACK THE
BOOK AND THE CHANGE OF HEART BY
THE BOARD CHAIR BROUGHT BACK THE
BOOK.
>> THIS PLAYS OUT IN AN ELECTION
YEAR WHERE EDUCATION POLICY AND
PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE AT THE
CENTER OF FLORIDA POLITICS.
HERE WITH US TODAY ARE ALEX
SERANO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
COUNTY CITIZENS DEFENDING
FREEDOM.
LAST WEEK HE PRESENTED 278
PETITIONS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
OBJECTING TO THE SEX-ED TEXT
BOOK CALL THE COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH SKILLS.
GINA IS A PTS LEADER AT PALMETTE
OR-- PAM ETO SENIOR HIGH AND HER
GROUP PARCHLTS FOR-- COLLECTING
SOME 2700 SIGNATURES ASKING THAT
THE SCHOOL BOARD RESEND THE BAND
AND REINSTATE THE BOOK WHICH
THEY DID.
SO WELCOME, WE’RE GLAD TO SEE
YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
BECAUSE OF COVID PROTOCOLS WE
STAY SEPARATELY AND WE’RE ALL ON
ZOOM AND THAT COMES WITH IT SOME
TECH-- TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
WHICH WE’RE HAVING WITH ALEX
RIGHT NOW, SO WE’RE GOING TO GET
HIM BACK UP ON A ZOOM LINK SO
GINA, LET’S START WITH YOU
BECAUSE THAT PETITION WAS A
PETITION THAT GOT THOUSANDS OF
SIGNATURES IN 24 HOURS.
HOW DID THAT START.
HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT RIGHT
AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED
TO TAKE AWAY THAT BOOK.
>> THANK YOU, GLENNA FOR ASKING.
WELL, AFTER.
>> YOU CAN HEAR ME.
>> YES, YOU CAN HEAR ME.
>> I THINK WE’RE
LISTEN-- LISTENING TO ALEX, IS
THAT YOU?
>> WE HEAR YOU.
>> I DROPPED OFF, I’M BACK.
>> OKAY, GREAT SO GINA, ANSWER,
LET’S TALK ABOUT FIRST HOW THIS
ALL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE WE’RE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALEX, HIS
PETITION IS THE ONE THAT GOT
THAT BOOK BANNED.
SO GINA, HOW DID THAT ALL COME
ABOUT?
>> SO AFTER THE BOARD RULING ON
JULY 20th, SEVERAL OF THE
PARENTS THAT WERE THERE, MYSELF
INCLUDED, CONTINUED THE
DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR CONCERNS
AND THE CRITICAL NEED FOR OUR
STUDENTS TO HAVE A CURRICULUM IN
PLACE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE WERE CONTACTED BY SEVERAL,
SEVERAL PARENTS IN MIAMI DADE
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SO THE
NEED TO CREATE THE PETITION SO
THEY WOULD HAVE A VOICE TO LET
THE SCHOOL BOARD KNOW HOW
CONCERNED WE WERE.
WE ASKED SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY
RECONSIDER THE PREVIOUS DECISION
AND PUT THIS CURRICULUM IN PLACE
WHICH HAS BEEN HISSING FOR TWO
YEARS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
>> ALEX, ARE YOU WITH US?
IF WE CAN LET’S POP HIM UP.
THERE HE IS, UPPER RIGHT, GOOD
MORNING, GLAD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME.
>> GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
ST YOUR GROUP COUNTY CITIZENS
DEFENDING FREEDOM, WE’LL TALK
ABOUT THAT LATER WHAT IT IS,
WHAT ITS GOALS ARE, BUT YOU
PRESENTED ON BEHALF.
GROUP 278 PETITIONS TO THE
SCHOOL BOARD OBJECTING TO THE
USE OF THIS TEXT BOOK, WHAT WERE
YOUR OBJECTIONS? WHAT WAS WRONG
WITH IT?
>> SO LET ME CLARIFY THAT,
MICHAEL.
WE DIDN’T PRESENTATION PETITIONS
ON BEHALF OF-- WE PRESENTED OR
FACILITATED A PROCESS FOR
VARIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
PARENTS OF THE DISTRICT TO
OFFICIALLY PETITION TO OBJECT TO
CONTENT OF THESE BOOKS AND TO
OBJECT TO THE PROCESS THAT WAS
EXECUTED TO SELECT, RECOMMEND
AND ADOPT THESE BOOKS.
I WANT TO PUT CONTEXT REAL QUICK
BETWEEN THE TWO PETITIONS.
ONE PETITION WHICH IS GINA’S
PETITION IS A CHANGE.ORG WHICH
SIMPLY ALLOWS A USE TORE CLICK I
AGREE OR SEND OR SIGN.
AND I WILL ARGUE THAT THE
PRETENSES OF HER PETITION ARE
MISLEADING AND IRRESPONSIBLE AND
WE CAN GET INTO WHY.
THE PETITION OBJECTIONS THAT WE
SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF PARENTS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE UNDER
A STATUTORY PROCESS WHICH
REQUIRED THAT THESE MEMBERS
REVIEW THE MATERIAL, SITE
SPECIFIC MATERIAL THEY OBJECTED
TO, FILL OUT THE FORM IN
HANDWRITING.
>> I’M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU,
WE REALLY DON’T WANT TO GET
BOGGED DOWN INTO PROCESS AND
WHETHER PROCESS WAS FORMED.
I MEAN THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
THAT YOU AND YOUR GROUP OBJECTED
TO THIS TEXT BOOK.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH-- WHAT PARTS
OF THE TEXT BOOK DO YOU OBJECT
TO.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST WE OBJECT
TO THE PROCESS THAT RESULTED IN
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THEELINGS
TEXT BOOKS TO THE DISTRICT T WAS
UNDER A VAILED FASHION THAT DID
THE NOT AVAILABLE AND PROMOTE
COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.
SECONDLY WE DO OBJECT AND MANY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE
FACILITATED THEIR OBJECTIONS TO
OBJECT TO, SEVERAL PORTIONS OF
THE CONTENT IN THIS BOOK.
MAINLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AGE
APPROPRIATE WHICH IS COVERED BY
STATUTE, BECAUSE THEY VIOLATE
PARENTAL RIGHTS WHICH IS ALSO
COVERED BY FLORIDA STATUTE, AND
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
SCIENTIFICALLY AND BUY LOGICALLY
FACTUAL.
>> SO GINA, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
ADDRESS THAT, WE DON’T WANT TO
GET DOWN, BOGGED DOWN IN PROCESS
TO MICHAEL’S POINT BUT THE
SCHOOLS DO HAVE A PROCESS BY
WHICH PARENTS CAN ADDRESS
THINGS.
YOUR PETITION WAS MORE OF A
REACTIONARY PETITION, I SAY THAT
WITH GREAT RESPECT BECAUSE
SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT REALLY
YOU DIDN’T WANT TO HAPPEN.
AND YOU GOT THE TIDE TURNED.
AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS
ALEX AND THE CONCERNS OF OTHER
PARENTS LIKE ALEX AND I JUST
WANT TO GO ON RECORD SAYING
ALEX, YOUR KIDS ARE IN PRIVATE
SCHOOL AT THE MOMENT.
ARE YOU NOT AYE PUBLIC SCHOOL
PARENTS, BUT WE HAVE NEW-- RIGHT
NOW THAT DON’T CHANGE MUCH WHEN
IT COMES TO PARENTAL RIGHTS IN
SCHOOLS, PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND THEY
ENUMERATE THEM AND SPECIFY THEM.
TAKE THAT IF YOU WOULD, GINA,
AND WHAT HAPPENS NOW GOING
FORWARD WITH THESE KIND OF
PROCESSES AND TEXT BOOKS AND
CURRICULUMS.
>> THANK YOU.
I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THAT
PARENTS HAVE A HARD TIME TALKING
ABOUT THE SUBJECTS WITH THEIR
KIDS AND THAT ALL KIDS DEVELOP
DIFFERENTLY.
THESE TEXT BOOKS PROVIDE ALL
KINDS OF INFORMATION ESSENTIAL
TO KIDS, INFORMATION IS REQUIRED
BY FLORIDA LAW.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY CONSENT
AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT IN A
RELATIONSHIP, HOW TO PROTECT
YOURSELF AGAINST DISEASES WHICH
ARE CLIMBING IN OUR COUNTY AND
ALSO HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
AGAINST UNWANTED PREGNANCY.
I THINK THIS INFORMATION IS
FACTUAL.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN VETTED
APPROPRIATELY BY EXPERTS THERE
WAS PARENT REPRESENTATION ON THE
PANEL AND I SUPPORT FULLY PARENT
INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF
EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.
AND AGAIN I UNDERSTAND ALL
CHILDREN DEVELOP DIFFERENTLY AND
EACH FAMILY HAS THE RIGHT TO
DECIDE WHAT INFORMATION THRAIR
CHILD IS EXPOSED TO, OR EVEN HOW
THEIR FAMILY VALUES INFLUENCE
THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT THAT
INFORMATION.
AND THAT’S WHY MIAMI DADE COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A DISTRICT OF
CHOICE.
THAT WAS NEVER, EVER THREATENED.
PARENTS ALWAYS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF ANY
CURRICULUM THAT THEY DON’T AGREE
WITH WHETHER THEY ARE TALKING
ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OR
GEOGRAPHY.
AND LISTEN, IF WE ALLOW PARENTS
ON THE PANEL THAT ARE LOOKING AT
GEOGRAPHY BUT DON’T BELIEVE THAT
THE EARTH IS ROUND, AT WHAT
POINT DO WE STOP LISTENING TO
OUR EXPERTS AND TRUSTING OUR
EXPERTS AND TEACHERS ON THESE
SUBJECTS.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR
RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION AND
ALSO MY SORT OF ALSO QUESTION,
PARENTS DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OPT OUT OF SEX ED.
THERE IS PARENTAL CHOICE AND SO
TAKING A BOOK AWAY MIGHT CRASH
THE CHOICE OF PEOPLE WHO DO WANT
IT, THOSE TWO QUESTIONS.
WHERE DOES FACT AND BELIEF COME
TO PLAY AND IS IS IT OPTED OUT
ENOUGH.
>> LET ME START WITH THE OPT OUT
PROCESS.
ONE OF THE MAIN PRIMARY CLAIMS
THAT WE HAVE IN OBJECTION TO THE
ENTIRE PROCESS THAT RESULTED IN
THE RECOMMENDATION AND ADOPTION
OF THESE BOOKS IN THE FIRST
PLACE IS THAT IT DID NOT FLAIBL
SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY AND
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
WE HAD TO TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES
AS AN ORGANIZATION TO INFORM OUR
COMMUNITY OF THE CONTENT WITHIN
THESE BOOKS.
THAT WOULD TELL YOU THAT THESE
OPT OUT FORMS WHEN THEY ARE
RECEIVED BY PARENTS, WHEN THEY
ARE MAILED OUT TO THE PARENTS OF
THE DISTRICT, THAT THE MAJORITY
OF THESE PARENT WAS NOT HAVE
KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY ARE
OPTING OUT OF.
IF THEY DON’T REVIEW THE BOOKS
BECAUSE THE PUBLICATION OF THE
BOOKS AND THE ACCESS TO THEM BY
THEM IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY NOTED,
THEN THEY HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE
CONTENT AND THEY ARE NOT OPTING
OUT IN AN INFORMED MANNER SO
THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO
INFORMED CONSENT.
IN TERMS OF QUALIFIED EXPERTS ON
THE PANEL AND PARENT
PARTICIPATION ON THE PANEL, I
WANT TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE
THERE WERE NINE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS THAT SELECTED AND
RECOMMENDED THESE BOOKS.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE PE
TEACHERS.
WE WOULD ARGUE THAT THOSE ARE
NOT QUALIFIED EXPERTS FOR
VARIOUS MEDICAL PROCEDURES THAT
ARE COVERED IN THE BOOK.
AND IN TERMS OF PARENT
PARTICIPATION THERE WAS ONLY ONE
PARENT IN THIS COMMITTEE AND
THAT PARENT WAS A DISTRICT
EMPLOYEE AND TEACHER OF THE
DISTRICT.
SO 10% ROUGHLY OF PARENT
PARTICIPATION IS INSUFFICIENT.
AT THE VERY LEAST IT SHOULD BE
50% PARENT ON THESE COMMITTEES
THAT REVIEW AND SELECT THESE
BOOKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, WEIGH WANT TO HEAR
FROM GINA ON THAT ISSUE, BUT
EVERYBODY HOLD YOUR PLACES,
WE’LL BE BACK WITH MORE
DISCUSSION ABOUT SEX EDUCATION
AND TEXT BOOKS IN MIAMI DADE.. >> WE ARE BACK WITH ALEX AND GINA, TWO VERY ENGAGED PARENTS
ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE
SEX-ED TEXT BOOK ISSUE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK.
THAT BOOK NOW BARK AT MIAMI DADE
N MIAMI DADE CLASSROOMS.
GINA, ALEX IN OUR LAST SEGMENT
WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT OPT
OUT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE AND HOW
THE PAN WHOLE DECIDED THE TEXT
BOOK WAS APPROPRIATE JUST DIDN’T
HAVE ENOUGH PATIENTS TON.
AND I KNOW YOU WANTED TO ADDRESS
THAT.
>> YES, I AGREE WITH ALEX IN THE
SENSE THAT I THINK PARENT
ENGAGEMENT IS VITAL TO THE
EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
AND I AM BEYOND THRILLED THAT
THIS ISSUE HAS ALLOWED MORE
PATIENTS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT IS
GOING ON.
AND TO ENGAGE ACTIVELY IN THIS
DISCUSSION.
THE REALITY IS HOWEVER THAT OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVE CHILDREN
FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS.
MANY OF WHOM DO NOT HAVE TRUSTED
ADULTS AT HOME.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY
REASONS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT
TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND OUR TEACHERS AND FOR THE
PARENTS THAT ARE AWARE, TO
ENGAGE IN THIS DISCUSSION
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL OF OUR
CHILDREN, NOT JUST OUR OWN.
>> ALEX, LET ME GO BACK, NOT TO
SOUND REPETITIVE, BUT I STILL
WANT YOU TO RESPOND TO THE
OBJECTIONS SPECIFICALLY, NOW I
UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT
THE TEXT BOOK IN QUESTION.
THERE IS SOME KIND OF BRIEF
DISCUSSION OF TRANSGENDER,
CISGENDER T TALKS ABOUT
EMERGENCY ABORTION
CONTRACEPTIVES, IT TALKS ABOUT
GOING TO A TRUSTED ADULT IF A
STUDENT HAS A PROBLEM.
DO YOU OBJECT TO ANY OF THAT?
>> YES, MICHAEL.
SO LET’S START WITH THE GENDER
IDENTITY COMPONENT OF IT.
THESE ARE HEALTH AND HUMAN
REPRODUCTION AND DISEASE
EDUCATION TEXT BOOKS, THIS IS
OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION SO GENDER
IDENTITY WOULD FALL UNDER THE
REALM OF IDEOLOGY, THAT DOES NOT
BELONG IN THESE TEXT BOOKS.
IF YOU ARE PROVIDING
SCIENTIFICALLY FACTUAL AND
ACTUAL GENDER INFORMATION, IT IS
THAT THERE ARE TWO GENDERS, MALE
AND FEMALE, THIS IDEOLOGY F IT
BELONGS ANYWHERE IN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, SOME, MANY PARENTS,
MOST I WOULD SAY WOULD ARGUE
THAT IT DOESN’T BELONG IN
SCHOOLS AT ALL, IT DEFINITELY
DOES NOT BLOPG IN HUMAN
REPRODUCTION AND DISEASE
EDUCATION OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION.
>> SCO WHAT IS INTERESTING IN
LISTENING TO THIS AND PRETTY
MUCH A YEAR’S WORTH OF DEBATE ON
THESE ISSUES, THERE EM SOOS TO
BE A LINE THAT NO ONE CROSSES
AND IT IS EITHER YOU BELIEVE IN
SOMETHING THAT IS IDEOLOGY OR
YOU BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT IS
SCIENCE.
AND THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT
CONVERSATION TO HAVE TO BRIDGE
BECAUSE IT IS WHAT IT IS, ON
BOTH SIDES AND FOR THE RECORD WE
RESPECT EVERYBODY AND ALL SIDES
HERE.
SO I WONDER IF YOU CAN WEIGH IN
BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT ALEX, SOME
OF THE LAWS, SOME OF THE
POLICIES, YOU USED WORDS THAT
ARE VERY VAGUE AND AGE
APPROPRIATE MAY BE ONE OF THEM,
AGE APPROPRIATE FOR ONE FAMILY
MAY NOT WORK FOR ANOTHER FAMILY
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS AGE
APPROPRIATE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH
SCHOOL.
WHAT IS THAT AGE?
OR IS THERE ONE?
>> I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO
ACHIEVE THAT DEFINITION OF AGE
APPROPRIATENESS, IT REQUIRES
SUFFICIENT AND IMPACTFUL
PARENTAL AND COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT SO THAT WHAT IS
SELECTED AND RECOMMENDED
REFLECTS THE VALUES OF OUR
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
>> THAT IS WHY WE ARGUE THAT THE
PANEL WAS NOT APPROPRIATE IN
TERMS OF EXPERTISE TO RECOMMEND
THIS CONTENT, AND TO REFLECT THE
VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE
IT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT
COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.
>> AND WHAT IN YOUR OPINION IS
AGE APPROPRIATE?
>> WELL, SPEAKS AS A MENTAL
HEALTH THERAPIST WHO WORKS FOR
OVER TEN YEARS WITH CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES IN THE AREA OF MENTAL
HEALTH, IT IS UNIQUE TO EACH
CHILD AND EACH FAMILY BUT I WILL
SAY THAT THE TOPICS THAT WE’RE
DISCUSSING HERE ARE APPROPRIATE
FOR SOME CHILDREN, MUCH YOUNGER
THAN EVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT CAN’T REALLY BE
GENERALIZED IN THAT WAY WHICH IS
WHY WE DO NEED PARENT
INVOLVEMENT.
HOWEVER THE JOB OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS NOT TO INSTILL
VALUES, THAT IS THE FRAMEWORK
OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES
PROVIDE.
THE JOB OF THE SCHOOL IS SIMPLY
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ALL OF OUR
STUDENTS AND ACCURATE
INFORMATION THAT IS BASED ON
BEST PRACTICES AND WHAT WE KNOW
OF TODAY.
AND AGAIN AS A THERAPIST, GENDER
IS SOMETHING, GINDER IDENTITY IS
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY REAL AND
WE DO HAVE TRANSKIDS IN OUR
SCHOOLS, THEY EXIST.
AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE
ACKNOWLEDGED AND RESPECTED AND
SUPPORTED.
>> YEAH.
TO THAT POINT, ALEX, I THINK
THAT’S INDISPUTABLE, WHAT
BEGINAR JUST SAID THERE ARE
TRANSKIDS THERE ARE KIDS WHO ARE
CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR SEXUAL
IDENTITY IN SCHOOL AND THEIR
CLASSMATES KNOW IT.
NOW ARE YOU SAYING THAT A TEXT
BOOK SHOULD NOT REFLECT THAT
REALITY?
>> NO, A TEXT BOOK SHOULD NOT
REFLECT THAT REALITY BECAUSE
THIS IS A HEALTH, HUMAN
REPRODUCTION AND DISEASE
EDUCATION TEXT BOOK.
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MORE
THAN SUFFICIENT RESOURCES
CURRENTLY THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT
FOR LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND YOUTH.
I WOULD SAY ALMOST TO A DEGREE
THAT IS DISCRIMINATORY THAT TO
THE YOUTH THAT IS NOT LGBTQ
PLUS.
THERE IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF
OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION IN THE
CLASSROOM IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED WITHIN OFFICIAL TEXT
BOOK IT DOES NOT BELONG THERE.
>> ALEX, YOU HAVE CHOSEN, YOU
HAVE YOUR PARENTAL CHOICE, WAS
TO TAKE YOUR KIDS OUT OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL, PUT THEM IN PRIVATE
SCHOOL.
SO WHY, YOU KNOW, I SO ADMIRE
ENGAGED PARENTS IN THEIR
CHILDREN’S EDUCATION, THAT SLIEK
THE A NUMBER ONE MARK OF SUCCESS
BY ALL ACCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS OF
PARENTS WHO ARE ENGAGED.
WHY THOUGH TAKE SUCH EFFORT AND
INVOLVEMENT TO DISPUTE WHAT IS
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY THREE
KIDS WERE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND
THE REASON THAT WE PULLED THEM
OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL IS BECAUSE
WE IDENTIFIED THE VARIOUS
PROBLEMS THAT ARE PREVALENT IN
OUR DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE
NATION TO BE HONEST.
SO I AM ON A MISSION TO RECTIFY
THAT SITUATION AS BEST AS I CAN
AT A LOCAL LEVEL WITH THE
ORGANIZATION THAT I REPRESENT.
SECOND OF ALL I WOULD SAY THAT
EVEN THOUGH MY CHILDREN ARE NOT
IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AT THE
MOMENT, THEY WILL BE OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY AND IN SOCIETY WITH
THEIR COUNTERPARTS THAT ARE
BEING EDUCATED BY OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND IF THAT EDUCATION IS NOT
APPROPRIATE, IS NOT FACTUAL AND
IS-- INCLUDES IDEOLOGY, THAT
WILL REFLECT UPON THE SOCIETY
AND THE COUNTER PARTS AND
COLLEAGUES OF MY CHILDREN AND
THE CHILDREN OF MANY OTHERS.
>> I WOULD SIMPLY SAY GINA, IN
ABOUT 30 SECONDS YOU WANT YOUR
CHILDREN TO BE AMONG PEERS WHO
ARE WELL EDUCATED ABOUT DOMESTIC
ABUSE, ABOUT SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASES, ALL THE
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS
TEXT BOOK AND ARE PROBLEMS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
>> THAT’S CORRECT.
AND I AM JUST SO PLEASED THAT
OUR SCHOOL BOARD MY FAITH HAS
BEEN RESTORED AND THEY ARE
PUTTING MY CHILDREN FIRST.
AND THAT THEY’RE LIVING UP TO
THE A RATING THAT THIS DISTRICT
PROVIDES.
SO I’M PROUD THAT BOTH OF MY
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS
ENTIRE, THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL
CAREER HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MY DAUGHTER IS A SOPHOMORE AT
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND
THRIVING AND I JUST SEE THE
AMAZING TEACHERS THAT SHE HAS
HAD AND I’M VERY PROUD TO BE A
PART OF IT.
>> BEGINNA WE ARE SO GLAD THAT
YOU JOINED US THIS MORNING.
ALEX, WE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR
GROUP, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE YOU
BACK IN THE FUTURE TO TALK ABOUT
YOUR MISSION IN MIAMI DADE
COUNTY POLITICS.