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If Trump had lost Florida, this would be a different story | Letters
Here’s what readers are saying in Wednesday’s letters to the editor.
 
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks on behalf of President Donald Trump's campaign outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center where votes are being counted, Nov. 5, 2020, in Philadelphia, following Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks on behalf of President Donald Trump's campaign outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center where votes are being counted, Nov. 5, 2020, in Philadelphia, following Tuesday's election. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) [ REBECCA BLACKWELL | AP ]
Published Nov. 11, 2020|Updated Nov. 11, 2020

Better elections? Look at Fla. | Column, Nov. 9

Florida has made elections work

The column by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush deftly describes how our election process has evolved since 2000. There is no doubt how well our elections now work. Nevertheless, if President Donald Trump had lost Florida, he would be also claiming a fraudulent election in our state.

Henry Zambrano, Tampa

Biden wins | Nov. 8

I’m an independent, but...

Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. They did it with no boat parades, no pick-up caravans and no super-spreader events. Integrity, compassion and inclusion triumphed over dishonesty, bullying and divisiveness. I am an independent voter, and I approve this message.

Mackie McNamara, Tampa

How did we do it? | Letter, Nov. 7

Vote-counting isn’t partisan

How did we do it? Simple. In Florida, election supervisors can count mail ballots before Election Day. In Pennsylvania, they can’t. It has nothing to do with “Democratic” cities, but more to do with legislatures. As much as some people want to make it one, it isn’t a partisan issue.

William Carroll, St. Petersburg

Local districts push USF to keep teacher program | Oct. 31

Keep USF the way it is

We represent a network of retired lifelong educators with close ties to the University of South Florida’s College of Education, the David C. Anchin Center and the surrounding school districts. Over our long and dedicated careers, we have served as classroom teachers, school and district level administrators and leaders of education networks. The announcement of the closure of the undergraduate teacher education program in USF’s College of Education was devastating and shocking to us.

We were heartened by the response of local superintendents, which evidenced the value the baccalaureate program has provided for the teaching profession in the Tampa Bay area. Our recent experience with the pandemic has pointed out once again the critical role that schools and teachers play in the success of our economic engine. The pandemic has also highlighted the need to prepare teachers to replace those affected in so many ways by the pandemic as they take early retirement or change jobs. Our school districts are facing looming teacher shortages.

It is the university’s responsibility to support the work force that the community needs. Due to the size of the school districts in the USF service area, training education professionals must remain a priority. In our experience, the four-year undergraduate program produces better-prepared beginning teachers than the less expensive alternative options.

Merrie Lynn Parker, Ed.D; Pamela Hart, Ph.D; Marilyn Katzenmeyer, Ed.D; Barbara McClamma, Ed.S; Karen Curlin, Ph.D; Judith A. Kreilling, Ed.S; Anne Schroeder, M.S.; Marilyn Kline, Ed.S; Christine M. Crocco, M.S.