South Florida legislator proposes bill requiring teachers take oath to uphold constitution, instruct in nonpartisan way

A South Florida legislator has proposed a new bill that would require Florida teachers take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution and teach their classes in a nonpartisan fashion The bill filed this week by Florida State Rep Tom Fabricio would make it a requirement for teachers jobs to swear an oath to uphold the U S and state constitution as part of their responsibility as educators I think this bill elevates teachers further as professionals and it gives them the opportunity to give their word to give another layer of accountability for the central job that they re doing for our state our country for our children mentioned Fabricio The Miami Lakes Representative stated the bill s concept is not a new one In Colorado Michigan West Virginia Nebraska Kansas South Dakota Louisiana Arizona all have oaths so this is something that s been in play for numerous years Florida doesn t have it stated Fabricio This should help parents feel more confident with leaving their children in these teachers hands Under the proposed bill teachers would swear under oath I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will promotion protect and defend the Constitution and Authorities of the United States and the Constitution and Executive of the State of Florida and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of a classroom professor in a professional independent objective and nonpartisan manner Teachers would also swear that I will serve as a positive role model in both conduct and character so help me God Fabricio says the bill wouldn t functionally change anything for teachers now working in classrooms drawing a comparison to oaths made by doctors and lawyers where their oath is to the code of ethics they agreed to follow upon employment The intent of the bill was not to create any kind of punitive framework or anything of that nature so in Florida we already have a code of ethics that teachers are required to abide by this points to that Principally this is the educator giving their word that they re gonna abide by the code of ethics They re giving their word that they re not gonna enter into any kind of political discourse in the classroom that they re gonna teach professionally announced Fabricio The bill will be considered by lawmakers when they meet in the next legislative session in January My word means a lot to me and I imagine that their word also means a lot to them noted Fabricio