Wednesday's letters: Students will suffer from DeSantis' education policies

DeSantis' takeover of education disturbing

It was very disturbing to read on the front page May 12 that Florida has rejected dozens of social studies textbooks and worked with publishers to edit dozens more in an effort to scrub the books of historical events and contemporary issues of race and social justice.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has campaigned for this and he has gone too far!

It is very worrisome to see his words translated into a policy that restricts access to our history and current events, and prevents our students from becoming knowledgeable citizens.

More: Governor bans funding for college diversity programs

More: How to send a letter to the editor

It is essential to create an environment that encourages students to explore and discuss contested topics; Florida’s education policy does not foster such an environment.

In The New York Times article, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said textbooks should “focus on historical facts” and be “free from inaccuracies or ideological rhetoric,” but this policy actually disregards the teaching of “historical facts.”

We should all be concerned about Florida’s future graduates and DeSantis’ authoritarian takeover of Florida’s educational system.

Linda Heller, Sarasota

Look at the facts, reject Obsidian

A proposed 18-story condo building on North Palm Avenue should be opposed.

This monstrosity, called Obsidian, would violate the 18-story height restriction for bayfront area buildings through the improper use of over 70 feet (five stories) of space between floors.

More: Projects making progress in The Quay despite One Park Sarasota's stalled status

It also would be built on a lot too small for a 342-foot building (more than twice the height of the nearest building), providing insufficient space for setbacks.

Simply put, this monstrosity is totally inconsistent with the Palm Avenue Arts District and must be rejected.

Paul T. Hess, Sarasota

Do the planet a favor: Birth fewer babies

Human numbers have greatly exceeded the carrying capacity of our planet. A recent Scientific American piece makes the case for the benefits of reducing our population: “Population Decline Will Change the World for the Better.”

Population reduction would ease pressure on nature, improve gender equity and reduce the need for our current global mass migration of desperate people. Studies show a reduced population could lead to a future with more opportunity and an increase in per-capita income.

Some claim that shrinking human numbers would hurt the economy, without considering the massive costs of ecosystem collapse, the mass species extinction underway and severe weather from ongoing human-caused climate disruptions.

You simply cannot have infinite growth on a finite planet. A future of sustainable abundance for humanity is possible. It starts with less childbearing.

Peter Burkard, Sarasota

We’re mistreating the air we breathe

The recent notifications of poor air quality (elevated ozone levels) in Sarasota County were cause for alarm! (I’ve lived in Los Angeles, so I know poor air quality!)  What has astounded me since moving to Florida in 2017 is how we treat the air we breathe. There is constant open-air burning as property developers clear land.

It’s outrageous how close to communities they allow piles of trees and other growth to smolder as they clear land where wildlife used to live, with trees that once gave off oxygen.

In addition, Florida has no vehicle emissions control (or any type of vehicle inspection). For evidence of that, see the thick black smoke that flatbed trucks’ exhausts spew like chimneys on the road today.

It's also a drag when you move to an area with beautiful beaches you can’t use because of red tide, which causes even more respiratory irritation.

Hopefully, the vital research being conducted by Mote Marine will eventually help abate these conditions in the Gulf.

I recall when Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to be a protector of the environment. Guess that was another false flag.   J. Roxy Myzal, Venice

Campaign dough outweighs deaths

State and national legislators avoid the subject of gun control for fear of losing campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association.

Maybe when one of the big politicians loses a loved one to gun violence, he or she will do something to regulate weapons of mass destruction!

Wayne L. Derr, Holmes Beach

Question of the Week

The Opinion page invites readers to tackle our "Online Question of the Week." 

Ready? Here it is:

If you were throwing a dream dinner party and could invite one prominent local or state figure to attend as a guest, who would it be – and why?

Here’s some guidance on your answers: Feel free to be funny, clever and/or imaginative, but please, let’s not be mean.

Email your responses by Thursday, May 18, to editor.letters@heraldtribune.com.

We will publish the best responses Saturday, May 20, at https://www.heraldtribune.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Governor's shocking censorship of school textbooks