(Note*--Please forward the following information to any Vietnam veterans organization or veteran. This is an urgent message about education in Florida that effects all Vietnam veterans.)
"It was brought to my attention today by a high school social studies teacher who I have been working with very closely who is teaching a class "History of Vietnam War." This is an elective class being offered in high school to 11th & 12th grade students.
Effective a the end of this school year, the social studies teachers will NOT BE ALLOWED to teach the class History of Vietnam War. No explanation was given. The teachers are mounting a fight to keep this class as an "elective" class for social studies. They have done their homework, cramming to justify this class. Now it is our support that it needed.
Please contact all veterans organizations about this development and have them write a letter to the Commissioner of Education at the below address:
Florida Department of Education
Attn: Commissioner of Education
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
In their letter ensure the following facts are pointed out.
1. Explain why they endorse the course as being an "elective" course in all
high schools.
2. Longest war in this nations history.
3. One of the major events our generations history.
4. The social and political situation we are living in now is a result of Vietnam
and the students need to understand why we are doing things differently than
what we did in Vietnam.
5. If we don't teach our students now, who is going to teach it in the future?
6. The legacy of the Vietnam veteran will die if the Vietnam war is not taught.
7. The sacrifice of over 58,000 lives on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was
lost for nothing. Have them explain their reasons not to teach the History of
Vietnam War to the Sons & Daughters listed on The Wall.
This matter is extremely URGENT!! ALL LETTER MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 12, 1998. Again our government was trying to slip one past us again. If you have time contact your State Legislator and get them involved. We can't afford to by-pass this battle. It's time for war on education."
If you have any questions, contact me Tom Hall
Semper Fi, Tom Hall
