Letters: Misguided education rant | Child-labor laws | Pope’s blessing of same-sex couples

Education column gets failing grade

Bruce Abramson’s misguided rant against higher education (“Educational elites fight misguided reforms,” Dec. 28) is part of his larger war against progressive thought and policies in the United States. The contributor to Breitbart News and other conservative outlets deserves an “F” for its failure to present accurate information.

He fails to acknowledge the difference between freedom of speech on college campuses and acts of hate and harassment. He also misrepresents shared governance between faculty and administrators as simply “faculty governance” and ignores any role students might have in shaping campus policies.

Further, he tries to link critical theory with communism and fascism, ignoring the fact that literary theory began in the 1920s with British critics at Cambridge University and their focus on literary patterns and symbols before turning to critical approaches that seek to understand race, gender, and class dynamics and the relationship between history, culture, and language. This requires a critical appraisal of such things as slavery and racism, and the political and religious institutions that, historically, propped them up or made them acceptable.

Lastly, Abramson’s longing for a return to a “traditional liberal education” reveals his true ignorance. He does not want students to engage in critical thinking about the world or themselves by means of a liberal arts curriculum and ideas that may be different from their own. Rather, he would insist that faculty and students remain ignorant of cultural injustice of any kind. His “reforms,” like that of the DeSantis administration, are not reforms but an effort to infuse higher education in Florida with their own personal religious and political belief system.

Mark Kamrath Longwood

Child-labor laws have greater impact

Regarding Florida House Bill 49, which if passed, would radically change Florida child labor laws: Maybe I’m seeing a connection here that doesn’t exist, but I can’t help think this proposal seems to be coming on the heels of laws that were passed earlier in 2023 that made life more difficult for undocumented immigrants in Florida. These are the very people on whom the Florida agriculture, construction and hospitality industries have traditionally relied on so much for cheap labor. Current policy has led to their mass exodus, which in turn means the aforementioned industries need to find another source of cheap labor and fast.

Russell J. Mitchell Orlando

A Papal blessing

Culturally speaking, the recent announcement by Pope Francis to allow priests to bless same-sex couples is of seismic proportion. For some Christians, particularly for those not acquainted with Scripture, it may become a difficult challenge. For it is terrible to condemn deceived people who deeply need both acceptance as human beings and spiritual help.

Felipe Fernandez Cutler Bay

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues discussed in the article are related to education, labor laws, and social justice, which align with these Sustainable Development Goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
• SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

These targets are relevant to the issues discussed in the article, such as ensuring equal access to education, eradicating child labor, promoting social inclusion, and protecting freedom of speech.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, the article does not provide specific data or statistics to quantify the progress. Indicators could include:

• Number of individuals with access to affordable and quality education
• Number of cases of forced labor, modern slavery, and child labor
• Level of social, economic, and political inclusion across different demographics
• Level of public access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms

These indicators would help track the progress made towards achieving the targets under the relevant SDGs.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: orlandosentinel.com

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