The United States is in a massive teacher shortage. Having the education system turned upside-down by COVID certainly complicated matters as well.
In the wake of this unprecedented shortage, the depth of which is unknown since states submit their education data to the federal government and some states opt out of this process, Florida is thinking outside the box.
On June 9, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would help expedite the process for veterans to become teachers by allowing their time-in-service to be counted as college credit. The veterans who would want to participate in the program must be honorably discharged or medically separated to enroll in this program.
There are more stipulations that the legacy media seem to be conveniently forgetting in their reports, as they go to bat to protect the powerful teacher’s unions. One stipulation is that the veteran will be receiving a temporary certificate that is good for five years, after completing their first two years of college with at least a 2.5 GPA. After completing this initial process, the veteran will also have a teacher mentor to help guide them in their classroom work for a minimum of two years.
This bill, passed unanimously by Republicans and Democrats alike in the Florida House and Senate, has caused predictable outrage from the teacher’s unions.
Jim Gard teaches at a high school in Broward County and believes this course of action will not succeed:
“You know, someone goes out, you’re spending $80,000, $100,000 on education and all of the sudden somebody else can walk in off the street literally and really take your job,” Gard says. “We have all gone to school; that doesn’t make you a teacher. I have ridden a pony; I am not going to go into the Kentucky Derby.
“This is not about military teaching,” Gard added. “It’s about getting guns in schools.”
While few associated this move to fill vacant teaching positions as a means to avoid gun control, members of volatile unions go all out when their stranglehold on an industry is threatened.
These are also not people who “walk in off the street,” as Mr. Gard so colorfully put it. The veterans have learned lessons of discipline, responsibility and hard work among many useful life lessons they can teach students. Core values from the military include:
- Navy and Marine Corps: Honor, Courage, Commitment
- Army: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage
- Air Force: Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do.
Not to mention the many briefings and instructional classes that military members already teach once mastering their occupational specialty. They pass down the information they have gained to ensure the next generation of Marine, sailor, soldier and airman are prepared to execute their duties.
Often when God answers a prayer, He does so in a way we are not expecting. Having a teacher shortage is not ideal and an extraordinary circumstance, so there needs to be unique ways to solve the problem. Some states have decided to just throw money at the problem and hope that fixes it. Florida appears to have actually put in the time and effort to come up with a plan that actually united both political parties and employ those who swore an oath to defend this country and the Constitution.
That is a God move.
When asking God for help in a situation, Christians must be willing to be led to things that may be unconventional. Remember Gideon? He led an unconventional army. What seemed an impossible task turned out to be an opportunity for the Lord to display His power and glory.
Isaiah 55:8-9 spells it out perfectly, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” {eoa}
James Lasher is a Copy Editor for Charisma Media.
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