MADELAIN TIGANO
The Corsair
The Lawton Chiles Foundation entered the Clyde H. Hagler Legislative Auditorium, on PJC’s Pensacola campus Wednesday Sept. 23, to speak to the Student Government Association (SGA) about their Worst to First pledge.
“As Florida’s 41st governor, my father, Lawton Chiles, understood that any investment made in Florida’s children, investment in education, health care or the building of strong, safe communities, would ultimately yield a great return for the state,” Lawton “Bud” Chiles Jr.
said on the foundation’s Website,www.worsttofirst.org.
Lawton Chiles Foundation was established to continue the governor’s work after he passed away. Grandson Geoff Chiles explained to SGA the statistics in Florida’s education. Florida ranks 42nd in state education funding; that’s an estimated 3.1 percent spending of its total resources.
“This doesn’t mean that a Florida student isn’t as smart as other state’s students,” Geoff Chiles said. “Florida just isn’t spending as much on their students.”
Florida spends an estimated $7,000 per student compared to the $9,000 national state average. Florida also ranks 43rd in high school graduates; only 60.8 percent received diplomas with a 1-in-4 dropout rate.
The Worst to First campaign started six months ago and Bud Chiles is dedicated to “walk one million steps to involve one million people.” He started his walk on Sept. 21 in Century and ended the 40 miles in Pensacola two days later.
“This is a way to unite our voices,” Geoff Chiles said.
His goal is to sign one in 20 Floridians to the pledge, for a total of one million pledges to take to the Florida’s government to “fund the education that works.”
SGA president, Matt Lamb expressed his disappointment in Florida’s education programs saying “public education didn’t prepare me for college life.” He also feels the state relies too much on “passing the FCAT.”
For more information and how to get involved visit worsttofirst.org.