This Labor Day, let’s renew our commitment to students, educators and public schools

Florida’s teachers rank 48th in the nation in average teacher pay, and wages for support staff rank near the bottom as well. Teachers and staff want job security, so they don’t face the threat of losing their employment when they speak up for kids. They want respect for their expertise and experience and to be able to make decisions.

By

Andrew Spar

Monday, September 6, 2021

When it comes to FL politicians and the environment, a myth is as good as a mile

They say they love the environment, but rarely do they act like it. They say they love the environment, but then back measures that make it easier for developers to destroy wetlands, block proposals that would tighten water pollution rules, or ignore warnings about what climate change is going to do to our low-lying state.

By

Craig Pittman

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Let's see OCPS Superintendent Barbara Jenkins's mask "requirement" as an opportunity

It opens the door to blowing off all kinds of things we should do.

By

Norine Dworkin

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Some GOP governors are finally getting a clue on COVID, but not ours

With the Delta variant rampaging the U.S., Florida is seeing an ever-increasing surge in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. But Gov. Ron DeSantis is blaming the media instead for whipping up "hysteria. This commentary is reprinted from the Florida Phoenix.

By

Diane Roberts

Friday, August 6, 2021

Gov. DeSantis wins the battle to ban critical race theory, but loses the war on history

The governor believes that teaching history as anything other than the “universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence” will cause students to hate and destroy our country. That’s the same reasoning slavers used to forbid teaching enslaved people to read and write out of fear of rebellion.

By

George Oliver III

Friday, June 25, 2021

What I learned at bystander intervention training

Everyone wants to believe they’d rise to the occasion and do something if they saw someone being attacked. That’s the fantasy of being the hero and saving the day. But how do you help without getting pulverized in the process? That’s what I joined 2,500 other would-be interventionists to find out.

By

Norine Dworkin

Monday, June 7, 2021

Yes, I got my 15-year-old the Pfizer shot

Vaccines are the golden ticket out of this pandemic. But for this to work, we all need to get on board.

By

Norine Dworkin

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Orlando Sentinel guest columnist misses Disney’s rape-y, racist imagery

A Christian conservative Republican gripes that Disney World's changes to make its parks more inclusive capitulates to "woke" politics that won't "offend certain people." Like that's a bad thing?

By

Norine Dworkin

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Black moms' lives matter

Systemic racism is literally killing expectant Black moms and their babies, and some other things I learned during Black Maternal Health Week.

By

Norine Dworkin

Thursday, April 15, 2021

A fine mess

Clerks of court should not be passing their administrative costs onto those with the least ability to pay.

By

Norine Dworkin

Friday, April 2, 2021

Let's separate religion from our government rituals

Our opinion writer argues that citizens are best served when civic ceremonies are devoid of religious trappings.

By

Joseph Richardson

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

It’s time Winter Garden made city commission meeting recordings readily accessible

I asked Winter Garden Mayor John Rees a question he didn't like at a city commission meeting. You wouldn't know it from the meeting minutes — but you can catch it on the audio.

By

Norine Dworkin

Tuesday, March 16, 2021