Education and politics embrace the politics of political exclusion

Education and politics embrace the politics of political exclusion

By Derek Joy

The Florida State Legislature is back in session.

Yeah. For two months there will be a political battle waged in Tallahassee. They’ll fight over legislation. But the biggest battle will be the struggle to win funding for this, that and the other that happens every year; in Congress; at the municipal level and in the state capitol, too. There’ll be arm twisting, backroom deals, mischief galore and all sorts of political chicanery, not to mention political skullduggery; all about the bucks. Being the midterm elections are on the horizon the battles will be intense.

Interestingly enough, education is, as usual, a focal point of the budget battle. Florida Governor Rick Scott is feeling the pressure of the budget battle during this Legislative Session. After all, Scott is up for re-election at a time when his public approval rating remains on a downward spiral. And it gets more intense as former Republican Governor Charlie Crist, who turned Democrat after the Republicans kicked him to the curb, mounts a strong effort to win the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination.

Hence, it is an ideal time for those in education, including students, parents, faculties, administrators and elected officials, to take note. Time to address the historical lack of funding for education in Florida; it is especially disheartening how grossly negligent the state has been in funding for inner city schools, discriminatory and simply tragic.

Consequently, it is uniquely impressive that President Barack Obama, through the efforts of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (Dem., Dist. 24), recognized the efforts and achievements of the 5,000 Role Models of Excellence, which Wilson foundeded some 21 years ago. President Obama recognized the 5,000 Role Models of Excellence Program at the unveiling of his “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to help young men of color.

It is a collaborative effort with the support of foundations, businesses and community leaders to improve outcomes for men of color facing tough circumstances. Wilson found the program to address the challenges facing at-risk young men of color in the Miami Dade Public Schools. The program specifically addressed dropout prevention and mentoring.

“We took 25 kids to Washington, D. C.,” said LaMarc Anderson, the CAP Advisor at Miami Northwester High School and volunteer in the Role Model Program. “We took two from each school. They had the experience of their lives. It gave them the chance to visit the White House. It opens a young man’s eyes, shows them they that others have achieved success and they can, too.”

And, yes, that is throwing down the gauntlet for Scott and the Republican dominated Florida State legislature. It says meet the challenge and quit discriminating against people of color.