Another mission for Black churches

Florida churches are stepping up to teach Black history classes | March 13

I am glad Black churches are stepping up to teach our history in light of the Florida State Board of Education’s new African American history standards that sanitize the effects of slavery and Jim Crow segregation. It continues a tradition that began after the Civil War when many Black churches served as both places of worship and educational institutions. At that time, illiteracy was the greatest issue to resolve, and the Black church stepped up.

But while I applaud their efforts, I feel Black churches need to expand them. In 2022, Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news website, noted only 25% of third graders were proficient readers, and a disproportionate number were Black. The executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future stated, “Teaching our children to read at grade level by grade 3 is the underpinning of every student’s pathway to lifelong success, and it is why the decline in grade 3 reading results is troubling.”

That’s why I would like to see Black churches go beyond teaching history and add reading, writing and math to their Black studies toolkit. It would go a long way in closing the so-called “achievement gap” that has too many Black students underperforming in these core subjects. Again, doing this is simply part of, well, Black history.

Joseph Brown, Tampa

Heed the NAACP

NAACP urges student-athletes to ‘reconsider’ going to Florida’s public colleges | March 11

The elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the University of Florida is the latest attack in a coordinated assault on the education of Black students. This recent attack was preceded by offensive new standards for teaching African American history and a ban on teaching Advanced Placement African American history in our public schools.

The NAACP correctly urges Black student athletes to reconsider attending Florida public colleges and universities. Parents, coaches, ministers and community members must join the NAACP in discouraging our student athletes from accepting athletic scholarships to Florida public colleges and universities. Because of its advocacy for civil rights, Florida A&M University should be the only exception.

Our 5-star, 4-star and all talented high school athletes should consider one of our top private universities like the University of Miami or Stetson University. Our talented athletes should consider other Florida historically Black colleges and universities like Bethune-Cookman, Edward Waters or Florida Memorial or out-of-state programs at colleges and universities that value diversity, equity and inclusion.

Black student athletes who are already at a Florida public college or university should enter the transfer portal and Black athletes who have signed letters of intent to attend a Florida public college or university should decommit. To compete for a Florida public college university is an attempt to bring athletic glory to an educational system that distorts your history and insults and disrespects you. Black student athletes must boycott Florida’s public colleges and universities. You must refuse to participate in your own demise.

Mack Horne III, Winter Haven

A good column

50 years later, athletes are again pawns in a shameful Florida fight | Column, March 13

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I’m writing to commend Tampa Bay Times sports columnist John Romano for his article in which he looked back at how Black athletes in Florida were used as political pawns 50 years ago and highlighted the similar difficulties athletes are experiencing today thanks to ambitious Republican politicians. Everyone should understand the historical perspective, and Romano delivered it. Thanks.

Sherry Hogan Ciurczak, Inverness

After the green, I wait

Charges dropped in St. Pete crash that killed 2 | March 13

The next time I am in traffic and the person behind me starts to honk just as the light turns from red to green, I am going to get out of my car and show them the article about how pedestrian Ann Prather and a bicyclist were killed by someone running the red light while speeding, police say, at 72 mph in a 45 mph zone on Fourth Street North in St. Petersburg. A few seconds to make sure that traffic has stopped will not hurt anyone. I have avoided at least seven possible fatal collisions by checking to see that traffic has stopped.

Carlos J. DeCisneros, Tampa

Thanks, Mr. Dillinger

Former Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger dies at 72 | March 12

The late former Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger was a true champion for children’s rights. The children in Pinellas and Pasco counties and all around the state are better off because of his vision that our justice system needs to do better for them. Dillinger saw gaps and set out to correct them. Dillinger saw that the child clients of the public defender’s office were floundering in foster care with no attorney to represent them in their dependency (foster care) case. He secured legislative permission and funding and created the state’s first crossover unit, which assigns the public defender handling a delinquency (or adult criminal) case to represent the child in the dependency case. The lawyers stick with their child clients until the end of the foster care case — long after they’ve gotten charges dismissed, reduced or children have been adjudicated. Children represented in both proceedings get better outcomes than their peers and his program is a model for the state. We were proud to have Dillinger serve on the board of Florida’s Children First for many years. We know his legacy will live on.

Geori Berman Seldine, Boca Raton

The writer is executive director of Florida’s Children First.

Not a Marine job

US needs to use the Marines to get supplies to Gaza | Column, March 9

I was a Marine from 1983 to 1987, and we joined and trained for one reason: to learn to kill the enemies of the United States as well as we could. Do not use the Marines, as suggested in a recent column, to deliver food to Gaza. Not our job.

Neil Lewis, Tampa

My own record

Records sought; cops called | March 10

When I requested records from Hillsborough County this week, I received only one document, a document I had sent to the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners that had my own handwritten notes on it. That’s a new low for public access.

Melissa Nordbeck, Odessa

Cell blocking works

Is banning cell phone usage in schools easy? It’s debatable | March 13

In light of the intricate debate surrounding cellphone usage in Pinellas County schools, one innovative solution emerges: Cell blocking technology could be our classroom hero. As a pest control company owner with 50 vehicles on the road, I’ve seen its magic firsthand. After installing it in our vehicles, at-fault accidents dropped to zero. This technology doesn’t just eliminate distractions, it transforms spaces. If it can turn our safety record around, imagine the focus it can bring to our schools. It’s not about taking phones away, but creating an environment where learning isn’t constantly interrupted by the buzz of notifications. Let’s learn from the pest control world and zap classroom distractions away.

Doug Longfellow, Tampa

Trump loves Trump

Biden and Trump win Georgia primaries and clinch nominations | March 14

Before Donald Trump was elected in 2016, the Republican Party believed in and stood for some things, but I can’t remember what they were. Since then, the Republicans have believed whatever Trump has told them to believe. Nonbelievers were quickly banished from the party. When are the Republicans going to realize that Trump doesn’t care about them or American democracy, the U.S. Constitution, or the rule of law? Trump only cares about Trump.

Dennis C. Shimp, Venice

Welcome, workers

Florida’s homeless bill isn’t the answer | Editorial, March 13

On two successive pages of the Wednesday Times there is an editorial “Florida’s homeless bill isn’t the answer” and an article “Fla. ban on noncitizens working on voting drives ruled illegal.” Now we have an acute labor shortage. U.S. 19 is lined with help wanted signs. It’s hard to find a business that isn’t hiring. Why not concentrate on putting the homeless and immigrants to work? The homeless might take some coercion or inducements, but we could as least make a dent in the tent encampments. But the immigrants would be stumbling all over themselves to get to work. We should be saying “Welcome to America” and handing out work permits upon arrival.

Pete Wilford, Holiday

Our lawless roads

Driver in Largo crash that killed 2 is arrested on homicide charges | Feb. 7

With traffic at an all-time high it seems as though there is total disregard on the streets to obey the speed limits or even stoplights. I drive for Uber and see no fewer than six cars daily running red stoplights. My job is probably one of the most dangerous out there at the moment with traffic regulations being disobeyed and drivers not being cited. Innocent people doing the right thing are being killed or maimed as they are struck by the lawbreakers. One example is the two who had a green light and were killed in Largo by a speeder, police say, who was going 92 mph on Starkey Road in the early morning hours, just because it was early and no traffic. I obey the speed limits due to my job and I am constantly being driven up on at a high speed, sometimes lights flashing behind me or horns blowing. Does that mean I just need to break the law too and go with the flow?

Nancy Salisbury, Largo