What can quiet down a classroom full of rowdy students? State legislation.
House Bill 529 (HB 529) went into effect on July 1, 2021, requiring first-period teachers in public schools to hold a one to two-minute-long moment of silence every day.
According to the bill’s text, neither teachers nor students should interfere with anyone else’s use of the moment of silence. Additionally, teachers cannot provide any guidance as to how students should spend this time; instead, they are instructed to encourage their students to hold conversations with their parents and family members about how best to use the moment of silence.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed the bill in June, has advocated for the time to be used for reflection and prayer.
“We think it is something that’s important to be able to provide each student the ability every day to be able to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit,” DeSantis said at a press conference. “The idea that you can just push God out of every institution and be successful, I’m sorry, our founding fathers did not believe that.”
However, many students feel that, in practice, the moment of silence can be disruptive and futile.
“It’s kind of unnecessary and not a lot of people follow it,” junior Zoey Deus said. “I understand what they wanted to do but they should stop expecting minimal things [like this] from students.”
Howdy, class of 2025!: CCHS hosts Cowboy Corral for freshmen
CCHS extended a warm welcome to the freshman class during this year’s Cowboy Corral.
Cowboy Corral was hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA) on August 9, 2021. Freshmen were able to tour the school, meet staff and administration, sample some of the school’s clubs and socialize with their new classmates. Attendees and volunteers also received breakfast, lunch and a t-shirt during the event.
This was the first Cowboy Corral since 2019, when the class of 2023 was entering CCHS. Last year, there was a virtual option that covered similar topics.
New school year, new superintendent: BCPS gets a new interim superintendent
New school year, new superintendent: BCPS gets a new interim superintendent
Look out Cowboys…there is a new superintendent in town!
After being selected for the position in a 5-4 vote by the School Board of Broward County (SBBC), Vickie L. Cartwright began her job as interim superintendent of Broward County Public Schools on August 2, 2021. The position of superintendent opened following the resignation of former superintendent Robert Runcie. Runcie stepped down as superintendent after being arrested for perjury back in April.
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected from the Broward County School Board to be serving as the interim superintendent,” Cartwright said in a recent media address. “I am really looking forward to serving this community.”
Cartwright will assume the role of interim superintendent as SSBC continues the search for someone to fill the role permanently. She will serve for roughly a year, and she will not be able to apply for the permanent position.
Photos courtesy of the Miami Herald
