Our Children Deserve Better: Guest Blog by Dr. Judith Coughlin

By John Knight, Early Literacy Coordinator on 05/05/2011 @ 01:14 PM

Tags: South

We have faced a difficult legislative session this year. Despite supposedly open ears, the legislative leadership has failed to properly invest in our most valuable resource – our children. We must voice our discontent and refuse to be pushed to the side. Please read our guest blog contirubtor, Dr. Judith Coughlin's open letter to Gov. Scott.

The Children’s Movement of Florida thrives on all of your passion and goodwill. Please take 5 minutes to make your voice heard.

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Governor Scott,

I am a member of The Children's Movement of Florida, Family Network on Disabilities of Florida, and the Spina Bifida Association of SE Florida. I am a responsible citizen with a full time job as a Program Professor at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale (with campuses in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, and West Palm Beach). As a professor of special education, I hear from the future teachers of America and they too are appalled by the cuts to education, early childhood, etc., and what that means for them as future educators. What will be left of our education system, should they even continue to try to become teachers (for some a lifelong dream) in a state that has not shown children to be one of its priorities? We are losing bright young men and women in the field of education and special education (a critical shortage area) due to the current state of funding of education in Florida and that is a sad state of affairs.
                                                                                                                               
Additionally, I am a single mother of a daughter with a severe handicapping condition (spina bifida) and another teenager. I am pleading with you as a mother first and an educator and advocate, to please do the moral, ethical and responsible thing. Please stop these terrible cuts that are affecting my children and all the other children in the state of Florida. All children deserve to be safe, secure and educated - if not by their families then by the rest of us in education, in politics and other organizations. We have to protect our children and look out for their interests before our own. Our children deserve it. Stop disappointing us all with your lack of investment in children, stand up, and do the right thing!

I would appreciate a personal response to my heartfelt email.

Sincerely,

Dr.  Judith Coughlin
Nova Southeastern University
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33314