Hillsdale dogma should not dominate schools

Support within the classrooms of our public schools, and no religion should be discriminated against. Religion should not be in our public schools.

Support Our Schools was founded with the mission of educating the public about the risks facing our system of public education and providing a platform for advocacy to protect and strengthen public education for all children. Integral to this mission is: n Defending our teachers and administrators from ideological pressure and political attacks n Preserving a modern, scientific and fact-based standard for the educational curriculum n Maintaining programs and policies that promote understanding and cooperation as well as the health and well-being of all students.

Support Our Schools members are Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. Some of us practice no formal religion. Some of us are atheists. We decry attacks on any person because of the religion he or she practices or the choice not to practice a religion or belief system.

Support Our Schools strongly believes in the separation of church and state, a principle enshrined in the Constitution and embedded in the policies and practices of public schools and governmental institutions for hundreds of years. No religion should be elevated and promoted

The last few years have seen the rise of a concerted and aggressive national effort by right-wing think tanks and other organizations to alter the direction of public schools. The blueprint for achieving this goal, created by Hillsdale College, is a comprehensive K-12 curriculum that emphasizes a narrower, much more conservative worldview usually found in private Christian and “classical” schools. Support Our Schools strongly believes that our public schools are not the place for a regime of religious-nationalist indoctrination.

There appear to be distinct efforts underway to undermine public schools across the country. Public schools, as opposed to private schools, are obligated to educate all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, religious affiliations or sexual orientation. Private schools may pick and choose which students they wish to educate with no governmental oversight or accountability.

These efforts appear intended to do more than reshape and eliminate certain course work and topics from academia. We are particularly concerned to see efforts by the Sarasota County School Board to bring changes to public school curricula that rely on the religious dogma espoused by Hillsdale College.

Of particular concern is the current attempt by the chair of the Sarasota County School Board, Bridget Ziegler, to enter a contract with a months-old company, Vermilion Education, which was founded by a young man, Jordan Adams, with no experience in teaching in public education.

Ms. Ziegler and the board sought no other bids. She apparently decided that Vermilion was qualified to do the job, even though Mr. Adams’ sole experience is five years teaching in Hillsdale charter schools and a private religious school. He also has worked on developing the Hillsdale K-12 curriculum and was involved in the review of math books for the state of Florida (looking for the dreaded CRT) and the Hillsdale 1776 curriculum. We are concerned that the board is entering into a contract at a cost of $28,000 with a company/individual who is woefully unqualified. We believe this is fiscally and legally irresponsible.

At a Florida Department of Education-sponsored training session on the recently revised Florida civics curriculum developed under Hillsdale College’s leadership, much of the material presented through slides was infused with Christian and conservative ideology. One slide stated that America’s “founders expected religion to be promoted because they believed it to be essential to civic virtue,” while an accompanying slide stated that “without virtue” (i.e., religion) citizens would become “licentious” and “subject to tyranny.”

Another slide stated it was a misconception that the “founders desired strict separation of church and state.” A slide quoted New England colonist Jonathan Edwards saying, “Political prosperity requires the general practice of a strict morality … as by a belief of Christianity.”

In the new Florida civics curriculum and in the Hillsdale College K-12 1776 Curriculum, one side of an argument is often presented, and historical figures are frequently cherry-picked to support the Hillsdale College narrative. Its view teaches that Christianity is and should be the dominant religion in our national life and that it should have a more prominent role in public schools.

It is clear to us there is a coordinated strategy by Gov. DeSantis and the GOP-controlled Legislature to defund public school districts by offering universal voucher programs that siphon money into private schools, some of which teach a noninclusive Christian nationalist worldview.

We are also concerned that the majority of our current Sarasota County School Board is taking direction directly from the governor rather than the stakeholders of our school district.

For the record, Support Our Schools believes that all parents should have the right to send their children to private Christian schools or “classical” academies if they wish. However, this should not be at the expense of the health and stability of our public education system.

If this plan succeeds, we believe it will hollow out our public schools to the detriment of the economy, our democracy and the overall well-being of the Sarasota community.

Any attempt by right-wing groups to label Support Our Schools as anti-Christian is completely unfounded. It is a cynical attempt to create divisions and stir up anger. Many Sarasota Christians standing with Support Our Schools have a strong faith in God. They strongly believe in Jesus Christ’s principle teachings of love thy neighbor, humility, charity, forgiveness, service to others and empathy. These principles are not the exclusive province of Christians. These qualities are needed now more than ever to push back against the surge in hate and intolerance directed toward some Sarasota educators, students and their families.

Support our Schools and many Sarasota parents prefer that divisive culture war issues stay out of the classroom. Most parents just want a positive, safe and supportive learning environment for their children.

We ask that politicians keep their personal religious views separate from educational policy decisions in our public schools.

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

A CLOSE CALL 12:11 a.m., 2900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: After dinner in Sarasota, a resident was alarmed when his daughter said her phone had linked up to an AirTag. The AirTag’s GPS showed the route taken from dinner back to the house. He told officers he was scared for his safety as he did not know who put the tag in his vehicle and they now knew the address. While speaking with the officer, the man’s daughter told him it was her sister’s boyfriend who left the tag in the vehicle.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

A POWERFUL SPRINKLER SYSTEM

6:57 a.m., 5100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: An officer was dispatched for a call of a water line spraying water about eight feet into the air. However, no police services were needed after the property owner said the spraying water was likely the sprinkler system.

HELP NEEDED

5:25 p.m., Longboat Pass

Boat-miscellaneous: While on marine patrol, an officer was flagged down by a boater having engine problems. The operator had thrown an anchor down, but was not sure it was holding well. The officer waited with the boat until the rental company arrived on the scene and towed the boat away.

JUST IN CASE 9:05 p.m., 5300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Property damage, not vandalism: When parking his vehicle, a resident’s front bumper got caught on a cement parking block at Centre Shops. The individual was able to push the bumper back into place on his own but wanted to file a report with the police in case he decided to file a damage claim with insurance later.

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

LOST AND FOUND

8:11 a.m., 7100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Found property: An officer was sent to the address on a report of found property. The resident said he had found a wallet on the sidewalk of the bridge with a driver’s license, cards and cash inside. The officer was able to contact the wallet’s owner to come to the police station to pick up the property.

MONDAY, APRIL 10

NEIGHBORLY HELP

4:58 a.m., 600 block of Norton

Street

Citizen assist: A neighbor called police on behalf of the homeowner in reference to a broken backflow preventer. Public Works was contacted about the issue and staff members informed the officer they were on the way. The officer called the homeowner to let them know Public Works was on its way to the residence. The officer had previously been informed the owner might not be able to answer the door because of medical issues.

UNMANNED SINKING SHIP

10:22 a.m., 800 block of Broadway

Street

Boat-miscellaneous: Police were called to report a sinking vessel in the area. The caller said the sailboat was on its side and was possibly taking on water. Upon arrival, the officer identified the vessel as a previously stamped derelict boat. Manatee County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol was made aware of the issue.

EARLY ARRIVAL

10:46 a.m., 5200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Citizen assist: Officers were called for a potential burglary. The caretaker of the property, who made the call, said when checking on the property he found clothes and food inside. The owner had been contacted and was unaware of anyone planning to stay at the residence. No one was inside the residence. The owner was contacted again and apologized for the issue, but her daughter-in-law and some friends had arrived earlier than expected.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

11:32 p.m., 6100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious incident: A loud bang in a resident’s garage prompted a call for police to check out the area. Upon arrival, officers canvassed the area, but found nothing out of the ordinary. They deduced the strong winds could have slammed a door, causing the noise.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

TOO FAST

12:27 p.m., 5700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Suspicious person: Officers received a call via dispatch reporting a bike driving fast down a sidewalk. When the officer arrived in the area, the biker was gone and could not be located.

FURTHER DOWN THE STREET

7:26 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles

MONDAY, APRIL 10

NOT POLICE BUSINESS

5:15 p.m., 3200 block of Bayou Way

Citizen assist: A resident called police to report water was not coming out of their faucet. Upon arrival, the officer told the homeowner to contact a plumber.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

4:08 p.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Found property: While conducting traffic enforcement, an individual approached the officer, handed him a set of keys and left. The person did not provide any additional information. The officer submitted the keys into evidence.

Parkway Citizen assist: Police were called to respond to a car hauler illegally parked on the roadway. The officer informed the driver that he was allowed to load and unload on the road, but in the future to park another block down the road to prevent traffic issues. The driver apologized and said he would finish up quickly and be on his way.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

UNWELCOME SURPRISE

11:13 p.m., 500 block of Outrigger Lane

Citizen assist: An officer was dispatched back to police headquarters for a walk-in complaint. The individual said he had a female staying at his residence and that he himself had been a resident for nine months. He recently found out the female was married and wanted her removed from his residence. The officer informed the man he would have to pursue civil action to evict her and directed him to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.