The Governor of Florida welcomed high school students from the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg Campus Civic Fellows Program with a short video message. Ron DeSantis.DeSantis stated in the 2020 video that this first in the country initiative in partnership with USF is sure to give you all a great start to your college career. I salute you for your interest in researching important issues in public policy and learning more about the workings of our judiciary, executive and legislative branches.DeSantis, however, vetoed this week a bill that focused on civic literacy education. It would have created a civic literacy practicum at USF St. Petersburg and established the Citizen Scholars Program. High school students will receive college credit for participating in the program.The governor signed a number of bills last week that were intended to increase civic literacy in the education system. However, he vetoed SB146 late Tuesday night. This bill had been unanimously passed by both the House and Senate.The bill required the establishment of a practicum for high-school students. This would allow them to assess the rights and responsibilities of American citizens and determine effective ways of participating in society, government and politics.DeSantis stated in a brief veto that his administration had done much to improve civics education.Although the bill proposes to promote so-called action civics, it does so in a way that could encourage the preferred orthodoxy two institutions, he wrote.It is not clear what the preferred orthodoxies are.Last week, Senate President Wilton Scott called Florida's universities "socialism factories". Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls said that universities are becoming places where only one view is accepted.A week earlier, the National Review, a conservative publication, published an opinion article calling on DeSantis's veto of SB 146. It called it a way for critical race theory to be incorporated into the curriculum and pointed to the Unlearning Systemic Racism tab at the YMCA's website. The bill would allow students to take credit for taking part in protests, it claimed.Continue the storySurprised by the veto, Republican bill sponsors stunnedSenator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), the bill sponsor, stated that he was shocked by the bill's veto and that the governor's reasoning was at best amorphous.He said that he didn't understand what that meant. It is purposely unclear, I believe.Rep. Ben Diamond (D-St. Petersburg), who sponsored the House bill version, stated that he was told that the bill would be signed. He had also been asked to give a statement to the Governors Office. He found out that the bill was vetoed last night and regretted not having had an opportunity to respond to any concerns.Diamond stated that this is part a larger political agenda to demonize universities and demonize education. It's just not clear to me. I am almost speechless. I was shocked that the governor would prioritize his political agenda over the interests of students in Florida. This is a shocking and heartbreaking act. His veto undermines public confidence and the ability of elected leaders to do right for their constituents.With much input from the Legislature, the program was launched at USF in 2016. It is a partnership between USF and the Florida YMCA. Brandes explained that the program was designed to help young people interested in government understand how to solve problems in their communities.Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan is a USF professor of political science and the founding director of the Center of Civic Engagement. The year-long program includes a week-long residential component at the St. Petersburg campus. The program includes high school seniors and juniors from all over the state, including those who identify as Democrats or Republicans, Libertarians, and those with no affiliation.McLauchlan stated that our approach has been bipartisan and to expose students to different viewpoints. Workshops are offered on communication and working together with people of different opinions.Participants attended a school board meeting and sat in on meetings of the city council and county commission. They also met Mayor Rick Kriseman. They also met with Lt. Governor. Jeanette Nuez and Rep. Chris Latvala met with them.The USF program will continueSprowls stated that it is important to remember that funding for the program has not been cut.The COVID funding was vetoed, but the program still received $300,000.Sprowls stated that nothing in the curriculum of the programs was cause for concern, but he understood the governor's point of view.He said that I believe the governor is concerned about the fact that many organizations involved in civics are becoming ideologically driven and pushing for a particular ideology, something he shared with me.He said that he believed this should be a warning tale for national organizations such as the YMCA. They have become more radicalized and can have far-reaching implications for local YMCAs.Lynne Wilcox is the CEO of the Florida State Alliance of YMCAs. She said that the YMCA has been running a Youth in Government program in Florida since 1957. Many of its graduates are now in public office. She said that this is just a bump on the road.We believe it is important that children understand civics so they can run for office, as well as run for school boards.Sprowls stated that he supports the program.He said that he believes these kids are more open to discussing the important issues and less offended by disagreements.He said that the only thing the veto does is increase accountability by making institutions request funds every year.Brandes also spoke to students last week and said that there is a civics lesson here for students: While a bill can have unanimous support it cannot be vetoed by the governors.
