Florida Education Association Calls for Public Schools to Be Protected Spaces
The Florida Education Association (FEA) has joined a call to ensure that public schools, places of worship, and hospitals are recognized as protected spaces. The organization emphasized the need for schools in Florida to remain safe environments for students, parents, and educators.
The FEA highlighted the diversity present in Florida’s communities and stated that this diversity contributes to the state’s strengths. However, the association expressed concern about increasing divisive rhetoric related to immigration at the national level. According to the FEA, such rhetoric has led to harmful actions by federal authorities.
“Our job as teachers and education staff professionals is to ensure every child in our community has a safe place to learn, grow, and be a kid – regardless of race, status, religion, or gender,” the FEA said. “When students and parents are afraid of what may come for them or their neighbors, it disrupts learning for everyone and creates an anxiety that does not allow students to learn and grow to their fullest potential.”
The FEA noted that recent actions and statements from elected officials regarding immigration have had negative effects on Florida’s K-12 education system. The association referenced findings from Florida’s recent Education Estimating Conference for PreK-12 Enrollment report.
“Every child in Florida is entitled to a public education regardless of immigration status, per the U.S. Constitution,” the statement continued. “We must ensure that our public schools are protected spaces, not political stages used to foment more division.”
The FEA concluded its statement by calling for unity: “We must stand united to protect our public schools, protect our children, and stand firmly beside our immigrant communities.”
The Florida Education Association represents 120,000 members across PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students preparing for teaching careers at colleges and universities in Florida as well as retired education employees.
