PENSACOLA, Fla. — Before stepping into a Florida classroom, starting next summer, teachers may be required to swear an oath. That’s the proposal in a House bill filed Monday.
If passed, House Bill 147 would require every classroom teacher to “subscribe” to a detailed pledge before performing their duties.
Teachers in Northwest Florida say they’re already required to take an oath. And the teachers union leaders WEAR News spoke with say they’re already working under the promises in this oath.
The oath in Florida HB 147 includes a promise to “support, protect and defend” both the U.S. and Florida constitutions, and to teach in a “professional, independent, objective and nonpartisan manner.”
Critics of the bill say the oath is political theater.
Escambia Education Association President Darzell Warren says every teacher is already under oath when they begin teaching.
Florida statute requires state employees, including school district employees, take an oath that they are a citizen of Florida to support both the state and federal constitution.
WEAR News was told this has been a requirement for decades.
Warren: “Teachers are doing that already. They take an oath to follow the constitution whenever they apply for jobs.”WEAR: “Then what’s wrong with signing this oath?”Warren: “To me, it’s just doing something over twice. I think, basically, we need to ask the maker of that bill what are their intentions?”
WEAR News called Rep. Tom Fabricio in south Florida. Tanner Stewart spoke with his aides, explaining that he wanted to speak with him about the bill and ask what was different about the oath he’s proposed versus what’s already included in the state statute.
Late Tuesday afternoon, WEAR News was told he was unavailable for comment. The station also reached out to Northwest Florida lawmakers, but they didn’t want to comment.
School districts in Northwest Florida say they’ll comply with any state regulations and will hold their teachers to that standard.
Warren says the school districts need to speak up against what she calls redundant policies.
“I think we’re at a point in time where people need to stand up and say why are we doing this,” Warren said. “This is already being done. We need to focus on the things that are really important and things that are a huge concern.”
“It is redundant,” she said.
The Santa Rosa County teachers union also weighed in. David Godwin says there’s concern with the language of the bill that teachers be required to defend the “government.”
Educators across the area say they still have questions.
“I don’t know of any oath that requires you to defend the government,” Godwin said. “Our loyalty is to the constitution, not to any government or politician. Governments change, the constitution doesn’t.”
“I think the maker of the bill needs to explain to people why they feel it’s necessary to put it out there,” Warren said. “There’s a reason for everything, and if there’s not then why put it out there?”
WEAR News spoke with Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association. He confirmed Florida teachers already sign an oath when they’re certified.
The state teacher union didn’t comment, saying much of what’s in this bill is already in statute.