JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Taking an oath to teach – That\u2019s the idea behind a newly filed Florida bill, which would require teachers licensed by the state to swear a constitutional oath to obtain or maintain their state-issued teaching certificate. <\/p>\n
Under the bill, teachers would have to swear allegiance to defend the U.S. and Florida constitutions and pledge to perform their duties in a \u201cprofessional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner\u201d.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI believe that when we entrust our students with the teachers, they should be treated as professionals, which they are professionals,\u201d said bill sponsor State Representative Tom Fabricio (R-Hialeah).<\/p>\n Fabricio told Action News Jax his proposed pledge wouldn\u2019t necessarily require a teacher putting their hand on a bible, rather it could be something as simple as signing their name on a notarized form.<\/p>\n Fabricio argued that just as lawyers, law enforcement officers, elected officials, and other professions are required to take an oath, teaching is a similarly important job.<\/p>\n \u201cThis bill elevates them as professionals here in Florida, and it brings Florida to match 32 other states that have had this type of legislation on the books for many, many years,\u201d said Fabricio.<\/p>\n But Duval County teacher Chris Guerrieri, who has taught in the district for 25 years, argued the bill does nothing to improve education.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a shame that this is where our legislators in Tallahassee find themselves, that instead of helping public education, instead of working to improve things, that they just have these culture wars,\u201d said Guerrieri.<\/p>\n