Even before his 2018 appointment as Florida education commissioner, Richard Corcoran played a key role in the state's education policy conservative drift. The architect of ideas such as the now-defunct Best and Brightest teacher bonus program and the state-sponsored "Hope" charter schools, Corcoran frequently spoke of the need to get education "right." His supporters anticipated him becoming a "most disruptive reformer" sitting in the Turlington Building. His critics feared the same thing. This past week, the former state House speaker revived those views.
— Jeffrey S. Solochek, jsolochek@tampabay.com |
| [Hillsdale College YouTube] |
| Education is 'our sword' in the ongoing battle with the 'radical left,' Corcoran says |
This conversation is not about Corcoran's ill-fated bid to become Florida State University's next president. Observers must acknowledge, though, how quickly the Tallahassee chatter quickly pushed his candidacy to the forefront, with all expectation that Gov. Ron DeSantis' education guy would get the job.
Some continue to suggest he didn't make the list because of undue outside influence.
Truth be told, even we were preparing. Had he made the final three, this space would have been filled with speculation about who might have the swing and savvy to take over as Florida's next commissioner.
Yet as Corcoran fell out of contention, he didn't lose attention. The social media buzz just shifted from his application to his May 5 speech at tiny private Hillsdale College, well known for its conservative connections. (Corcoran's education department included Hillsdale as an adviser and provider for Florida's civics standards update.)
Entitled "Education is Freedom," the 45-minute talk and Q&A session gave the commissioner space to riff on his administration's views about schooling. Corcoran used the time to cast education as the critical weapon in a battle for the soul of the nation.
"The war will be won in education," he told the audience. "It will be a battle, and we will have to fight."
He noted that Republicans had won Florida's past several elections for governor by razor thin margins, but that was enough to protect against the "radical left" undoing efforts such as school choice and accountability expansions before they gained a critical mass.
"Leadership is everything," Corcoran said. "As soon as that leadership changes, everything changes."
With more than half a million families availing themselves of education options outside the traditional district public schools, he suggested, even a win by a liberal couldn't undo the momentum now.
Both inside the education department and outside, the work to further the preparation of children as "great citizens" continues, Corcoran added. He offered the state's approval of new academic standards as a key example.
By overhauling those course guidelines, he said, Florida disrupted its entire textbook adoption cycle. The department got the opportunity to create reading lists that focus on conservative lessons.
"Content matters," Corcoran said.
He stated that publishers are "infested with liberals," but the state used its buying influence to have approaches such as whole language excised. The pandemic interrupted the initiative, he continued, and "I didn't think to say, 'Keep all the crazy liberal stuff out'" of online materials.
That effort is now under way, he noted.
Beyond that, Corcoran said, the department will continue its vigilance in preventing teachers from infusing with ideas such as critical race theory, which has earned DeSantis' wrath but is not in the state curriculum. Corcoran contended that educators can bring the ideas in through their social-emotional lessons.
"You have to police them on a daily basis," Corcoran said, mentioning one Duval County teacher who was removed from her classroom after refusing to take down a Black Lives Matter flag. (The teacher is suing.)
The speech received positive coverage from the Hillsdale Daily News. It also got some less flattering notice from some Floridians who have questioned Corcoran's "scary crusade."
Progressive blogger and Monroe County School Board member Sue Woltanski didn't offer any adjectives. Her recommendation: Just watch. You might find what he has to say interesting. |
| TAMPA BAY EDUCATION ROUNDUP |
| [JOHN PENDYGRAFT | Times] |
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