Transcript
HOW FLORIDA SLEPT
Background on the Developing Florida School Crisis
May 28, 1965
FEA asked NEA to investigate Florida's political atmosphere as it affected education. The call came after lawmakers defeated a $51 million teacher pay raise under threat of gubernatorial veto.
June 15, 1965
NEA arrived to make a preliminary inquiry.
September 18, 1965
Eight man NEA begins [full-scale] investigation which includes school inspections, talks with officials, staff members, and citizens.
March 10, 1966
NEA's 198-page report was released to news media. Investigation showed that the 1947 Minimum Foundation Program never had been implemented fullly....it had become a maximum program instead of a minimum one....showed Florida financially capable of adequate school funding....but political climate was detrimental to public school system.
March 19, 1966
SANCTIONS ALERT announced. It was a move which preceded actual sanctions, putting the state on warning.
November 8, 1967
Republican Claude Kirk elected governor on platform to make Florida first in education, but with no new taxes.
April 14, 1967
FEA's 22 member team introduced proposals during the regular legislative session. New governor and new legislature show more concern for partisan political maneuvering than for education.
April 26, 1967
Gov. Kirk finally announced his education plan: "Balanced budget"....$119 million cut from state spending, mostly for education...slash of $66.4 million from junior colleges, kindergartens, libraries, and exceptional child care, and others.
April 27, 1967
FEA President George Dabbs warned that "statewide sanctions are almost sure to be invoked" if the legislature took the governor's plan.
May 5, 1967
After five weeks of effort not one FEA proposal reached the floor of either house.
May 13, 1967
Thousands of teachers attended area meetings, voted overwhelmingly to endorse all sanctions.
May 24, 1967
STATEWIDE SANCTIONS imposed. FEA also request4ed NEA sanctions.
June 3, 1967
FEA imposed further sanctions.
June 6, 1967
NEA announced nationwide sanctions invoked on Florida, censuring Kirk and advising teachers elsewhere not to seek employment in Florida during sanctions.
June 25, 1967
NEA's Dr. Cecil Hannan arrived to confer with political leaders, businessmen, and FEA leaders about NEA sanctions.
June 29, 1967
Kirk line-item vetoes legislative bills, "writing" his own package by cutting out $164 million in appropriations, $150 million of which was for education.
-2-
July 5, 1967
Governor's measure becomes law as Democrats fail to override his vetoes.
July 6, 1967
St. Petersburg Times; "Floridians will not long remain content with a public school system guided downhill by Gov. Kirk and his Senate supporters."
August, 1967
All efforts for a special session on education fail, even though State School Supt. Christian warned publicly that teachers might consider mass resignations.
August 24, 1967
More than 35,000 teachers crowded into Orlando's Tangerine Bowl breaking all records for such a meeting anywhere in the country. The meeting showed that teachers really meant business. FEA agreed the next action would be resignations.
September 5, 1967
Kirk announced "study" to determine measures which would "make Florida first by 1975."
September 5-14, 1967
2,800 Broward teachers resigned over local grievance; settled after seven days.
September 19, 1967
FEA's Dr. Constans and State Supt. Christian share 30 minutes explaining school problems on statewide TV.
September 21, 1967
Legislature appoints committee to act as catalyst in crisis and avert mass resignations.
September 26, 1967
Kirk still refused to call a special session.
October 1, 1967
CRISIS SUNDAY. Teachers spent day at their schools to explain situation to parents. Attendance, reflecting public interest, was poor, but those who came were appalled at school conditions.
October, 1967
In face of another FEA mass meeting to submit resignations, Kirk called for an accelerated Quality Education Commission investigation and report. FEA quickly cooperated by holding all sanctions in abeyance while report was being compiled. FEA also offered its staff services.
November-December, 1967
Commission finished its survey, made recommendations before Christmas, meeting deadline. Special delegate assembly criticizes report for what it does not contain in recommendations.
January 13, 1968
Governor addressed Legislature, called for tax increases to raise an astronomical $580 million, little of it for public schools.
February 1-9, 1968
Senate passed a compromise package acceptable to FEA, but House-Senate Conference Committee accepts House version which is unacceptable for teachers because it used the schools as the basis for increasing taxes when less than half of the money actually would get to the K-12 program. It also used the Minimum Foundation Program as a vehicle to provide property tax reduction.
-3-
February 13, 1968
Kirk threatened to veto any bill without a referendum on new taxes, but refuses to act immediately on the bills or to extend session.
February 16, 1968
Legislature adjourns. With no clear solution of crisis in sight FEA activated 35,000 resignations.
February 19, 1968
More than one-half of the state's teaching force - about 35,000 - stay away from classes. Schools close immediately in 22 counties. State School Superintendent vows to keep schools open at all costs. Teachers meet daily in 21 regional areas to plan activities. Most of schools in larger cities did not attempt to hold classes.
February 20, 1968
State Cabinet authorizes hiring of uncertified substitutes to replace resigned teachers. Thousands are hired, many without qualifications or adequate screening. In some counties, older students are used to hold classes for lower grades. In others, persons with only high school education fill in. Substitute pay is increased from $20 to $30 a day in some areas. Resigned teachers are intimidated with threats of jail, draft, or loss of teaching certificate for a year.
February 21, 1968
Businesses in many areas begin releasing their personnel to fill in as substitutes and keep schools going. Circuit Court injunctions served throughout state to prevent FEA involvement in individual teacher's decision whether or not to submit resignations. Attorney General Earl Faircloth, a member of State Board of Education, urges all schools be closed for five days to avoid chaos and turn issue over to mediation panel. State School Superintendent opposes proposal.
February 24, 1968
NEA urges teachers in other states to contribute a day's pay to assist their Florida colleagues. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools warns that schools with uncertified personnel can be disaccredited.
February 28, 1968
State Board of Education attempts settlement with FEA and end crisis, but Kirk threatens to veto education bills if agreement is made without his involvement.
February 29, 1968
Kirk claims Florida being made "NEA testing ground" for striking teachers.
March 1, 1968
State Board of Education withdraws from negotiations, settlement collapses under threats of governor to veto bills. He calls negotiations a "sellout to strikers."
March 3, 1968
NEA-FEA prepare for long battle "in the trenches." Money begins arriving from NEA, other states to help Florida's beleaguered teachers.
March 4, 1968
Former gubernatorial candidate Scott Kelly begins tour of state to help teachers and parents resolve crisis.
March 5, 1968
FEA reveals powerful lobbying group known as "Associated Industries of Florida" - the monied interests of the state - had urged the State Cabinet to accept teachers resignations outright and not worry about recruitment of teachers for next fall.
-4-
March 7, 1968
FEA attorney resigns, is replaced by two labor relations attorneys from Tampa area.
March 8, 1968
State Board of Education calls emergency meeting, approves nine-point settlement with FEA calling or an additional $10.2 million for education this school year, and other minor concessions. FEA accepts settlement, but insists that all teachers who resigned must be reinstated to their same position, at the same salary and contract status, without reprisals.
March 11, 1968
Only 27 of 67 county school boards fully reinstate teachers. Crisis continues in other counties as school officials seek revenge and reprisals rather than settlement. NEA announces it will conduct massive "dry-up" of teacher supply in Florida if schools boards continue reprisals.
March 13, 1968
State School Supt. Christian and State Attorney General Faircloth issue opinions giving school boards legal ways to restore teachers who resigned without loss of position or tenure, and dismissing the resignations already acted upon by schools officials.
March 14, 1968
FEA waives sanctions against 12 counties where all teachers and administrators had been fully reinstated at first of week without reprisals. Efforts continue in another 30 counties to effect settlements.
NEA-FEA announce formation of 14-member "Truth Team" of resigned teachers from Florida who will tour continental U. S. seeking funds for the 7,500 remaining teachers still not reinstated, and to tell the truth of what has happened to Florida's education system and its educators.
Listen: The Assorted Selections Program
