Dear Readers,

     Allow us to introduce The Chronicle’s first—and certainly not last—editorial. We assure you, there could not be a more important subject for this debut.

     As you may know, the Florida Department of Education passed a piece of legislation titled the Parental Rights in Education Act (labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by the media) in March 2022. However, what you may not know is that the law has recently been extended.

     The original law prohibited public school teachers of kindergarten through third grade from teaching any material regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and required educators whose students identify by a different name or different set of pronouns to inform the students’ parents of such preferences. 

     As of April 2023, these restrictions have been extended to public school teachers of fourth through twelfth grade. An educator’s failure to comply with these laws may result in the loss of their Florida teaching license.

     We, The Chronicle board of editors, as supporters of free speech and freedom of expression, do not support the passage of this law. Shorecrest, as an independent school, is less affected by this unconstitutional law than Florida public schools. However, if Shorecrest receives any government funding, as often done for scholarships, we run the risk of becoming susceptible to these laws.

     Regardless of whether the school falls under state jurisdiction or not, Shorecrest educators who have a Florida teaching license are still at risk of losing it by either violating the Safety in Private Spaces Act, intentionally teaching children Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade sexual orientation or gender identity (with the exception of health classes), withholding information about a students mental or physical well-being from parents (with the exception of abuse), or even asking a student for their pronouns. 

     We support our teachers and sympathize with the position the state has put them in.

     Furthermore, we recognize that a threat to teachers’ and students’ essential freedoms is a threat to all our freedoms. We find it equally saddening and angering that the very officials elected to represent us and our beliefs have apparently turned their backs on us.

     Everyone is entitled to an unbiased, free-thinking, all-encompassing education delivered by passionate teachers. We are of the opinion that this law, among others, have succeeded only in potentially damaging Florida children’s futures and pushing educators into independent schools or other fields.

With Saddened Hearts,

The Chronicle staff