Last week's rally for tax credit scholarships continues to spur debate on editorial pages across Florida, but perhaps the most poignant exchange took place in the capital city's newspaper, where a parent responded to the leader of the statewide teachers union.
Joanne McCall, the president of the Florida Education Association, wrote a guest column last week in the Tallahassee Democrat:
It has become an annual tradition during the legislative session and this Tuesday was no exception: Voucher proponents empty out private schools that receive money from the state, and bus students up to Tallahassee for a political pep rally.
Lawmakers continue to pump more money that should be going to state coffers into the tax-credit voucher program, making it bigger every year. But what do we know about the quality of these schools that receive tax dollars from the state? Not a whole lot.
The rally was neither annual nor political, but Faith Manuel, a former scholarship parent who spoke at the event, addressed that and other issues in her response.
As a parent who was honored to stand with Martin Luther King III and other respected black, white and Hispanic leaders in a historic rally in Tallahassee on Tuesday, I was stunned to read the reaction of Florida teachers union president JoAnne McCall.
In her attempt to ridicule the 10,000 students, parents and educators who came from around the state to voice support for Tax Credit Scholarships for low-income children, Ms. McCall intentionally misled Tallahassee Democrat readers. We could only wish this had been merely a “political pep rally,” as she termed it, in the same vein as the union rallied four days earlier to criticize lawmakers. But we were there for one purpose, as expressed on our shirts: “Drop the Suit.”
Editor’s note: Faith Manuel has had three children use the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program through Step Up For Students (which hosts this blog), and has spoken and written throughout the state about school choice. In this post, a condensed version of one that first appeared on Stepping Beyond the Scholarship, she describes her family's educational journey, which involved a mix of public and private schools.
Blessed! I can find no other word that adequately describes my family. My oldest son, Davion, is a college junior pursing his passion for education at the University of North Florida. My middle man, Nicholas, is a high school senior who is a starting member of a nationally ranked high school football team. He is also an accomplished singer who has received some national ranking for his vocal ability. My baby girl, Faith De’Yanah, is a budding high school freshman who is a wonderful student and athlete. I am working in a job that I love which seems tailor-suited for my strengths and passion for helping others. We are (so) blessed.
From left to right, Davion Manuel-McKenney, Faith Manuel, Faith De’Yanah McKenney and Nicholas McKenney.
Our family proves that the start of a journey doesn’t dictate how far you travel. Geographically, it’s only been about 250 miles; but in growth as a family; we have traveled a mighty long way. My journey started in Hollywood, Fla. When my children and I relocated to Volusia County, I was a young divorced mother and I was in school. We lived in public housing, the only place we could afford with my part-time employment.
