Question of the week deals with renaming Gulf of America

(This story has been republished with the correct poll numbers)

This week, Florida became the first state to formally and officially recognize the formerly-known Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills that renamed the gulf in state law and public school textbooks. A few months ago, I wrote a piece wondering why we should stop there. Why not rename the Atlantic Ocean, the East American Ocean?

“Florida is proud to follow the leadership of President Trump as the first state to officially recognize the Gulf of America,” said Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, in a statement. “American exceptionalism isn’t an abstract idea. It is an absolute fact that we must recognize and celebrate. In Florida, we will always put America first.”

School districts and state agencies will have to start making the changes after July 1. The biggest impact will be to "geographic materials," like textbooks, and additions to media center libraries to refer to the Gulf of America.

The move seems like nothing more but political posturing on the part of the governor. But I'm curious. Will you be using the new name?

You can simply cast your votes on the ballots above.

You can scan the QR code that is on the print edition page or go to https://www.floridatoday.com/opinions-columns/.

Please leave a comment telling us why you voted the way you did. In order for your comment or email to be published on our website and in next week's print edition, you must include your first and last name.

You can also shoot me an email with "GULF" in the subject line. I look forward to reading your responses.

Do you support the 2023 Florida rule that prohibits teachers from referring to students with a name other than their legal name without parent permission?

Last Sunday I asked if you supported the 2023 Florida rule that prohibits teachers from referring to students with a name other than their legal name without parent permission?

The results of the poll are:

• Yes: 14.96 percent
• No: 85.04 percent

Here is what you had to say:

The firing of teacher Melissa Calhoun, former teacher at Satellite Beach High School and De Laura Middle School, highlights the steady erosion of free speech and strangulation of the expression of competing ideas in education.

More than half a century ago, in 1972, I was a student at De Laura, at that time a junior high school.  Our social studies teacher handed out to us a mimeographed sheet of paper that listed various and sundry politically fringe organizations, e.g. the Communist Party USA, the Black Panther Party, the States Rights' Party, and others whose views fell far outside the mainstream, along with their contact information.

The goal was not to encourage us to blindly follow these groups on the periphery of the political landscape but rather to use the analytic skills we had been taught--rudimentary though they may have been--to analyze the ideas they espoused, and to develop our own algorithms through which we could logically evaluate their various and sundry claims to truth.

That represents the essence of education.  I'm distressed to see that this mission of developing critical thinking skills seems to be under attack by an increasingly militant tide of intolerance that seeks to narrow exposure to new knowledge.

-- Ronald O. Richards

I don't think a law was needed to address this since many people go by names different than their legal name. Someone with the same name as their father is sometimes called by their middle name or another nickname to avoid confusion. Also, the way I read the law was that even shortened verisions of the legal name required parental permission, So if Victoria wanted to be called Vicki that would require permission. So my question is, did all teachers with students who fell into the above catagories get parental permission or was this case singled out because it involved an LGBTQ student? If all others got permission then it is the law and some discipline, not necessarily firing, was in order. But if this case was singled out then wipe the slate clean and from now on all students must obtain permission.

--Ron Voll

Parents have the right to raise their children. Laws need to be obeyed. If the people do not agree with the law it should be changed. 

--Chris Cook

Whether you agree or not, willingly choosing NOT to follow the law is a way more serious "lesson" we should not be teaching our children. Although difficult, there are avenues to change a law you do not agree with. That should not include just willfully breaking the law.

--Ron Meyr

Let teachers teach. Let parents decide what is best for their children. Teacher overstepped her boundaries set by the state / will of the majority. What’s next ? Escorting a student for sex change or abortion. How dare the teacher make those decisions without parental involvement. She should be fired. Or better yet prosecuted. Our children should be taught moral values at home.

--Roy Krull

The current atmosphere of putting more burdens on teachers is taking time away from teaching. They now have to verify even a simple nickname for a student let alone choices made by a teenager who is searching out an identity. Children need safe havens and unfortunately sometimes school is their safe place.

--Linda Galletta

I disagree because this is another paperwork nightmare as well as unnecessary. As a person who has never used my given name (except official business) I see this as ridiculous. Each year (yes, at Satellite Beach schools) teachers would ask if we went by our given name. Most of us had nicknames and the teachers used them based on what we said. No parents needed, nothing to do with gender identity. It was usually the only time classmates heard your “real” name and some teasing ensued! As a former teacher, building relationships with your students and building trust is much more important than a signed piece of paper.

--Lindy Johnson

I do NOT support this rule. If a student wants to be called by a different name that is ok with me. In any case this should not be a reason to fire the the teacher.

--Jim Gifford

Students need good teachers. Sometimes, teachers have the greatest influence in a student’s life, especially if they have neglectful parents. I cannot grasp why the parent reported this except for one reason. They do not accept their child as they are and refuse to respect their identity. This is a tragedy for an excellent teacher and her current and future students.

--Hanna Welander

The far right's or religious right's anti woke stance is beyond absurd and firing a teacher for supporting a students wishes is anti American.  Parents' rights should reflect the welfare and wellbeing of their children to guard against bullying or defamation of character against their child, but not when the opposite is true and is, in fact, against the child's own wishes.  

-- Wes Schroeder

First of all, there are no circumstances under which schools should do anything relating to a child without the parents knowledge or consent! Anything! Once you accept this absolute fact, all other arguments are simply mindless chatter.

A child's sexual identity, name, gender preference, is strictly the parents responsibility.

If a school employee feels a child is being harmed by parents actions, or lack thereof, they can report this to the administration, or the state. But to take the step of calling a child by a name the parents do not approve of or authorize, is simply wrong. And as the teacher in question knew, against the law. Rather than the saviour this person feels she is, putting herself on a pedestal, she is simply someone who feels that with very limited daily contact with a child, her judgement as to what is best for the child is superior to that of the parents.

And for this, she should suffer the consequences of her actions. As do the students in her class when they break the rules.

Raising a child is a difficult if not nearly impossible task, made much more so by the multitudes of "monday morning quarterbacks" inserting themselves in the process as this teacher clearly is!

-- Craig Graham

I am a retired BPS teacher, over 25 years of experience. During the last 10 years of teaching more of my students would ask me to refer to them by their new name due to transitioning. My response would be, "I will call you HUN". I am from Baltimore, and everyone is "Hun". I would explain to them that I would try to remember their new name but given the fact it was March, and I went the entire year calling them by their new transition name...and the fact I had taught over 4K kids, and I was getting older and it wasn't as easy to remember to call them their new name...but I did my best to remember, if I slipped and called them by their old name, I apologized. Which they appreciated-tremendously. It boils down to respect, to support them in their journey, without judgement.  

Let me also say, elections have consequences. The parents in this community voted Matt Susin back in office. The candidate that was backed by Moms4Liberty. Most voted for Desantis...and here we are. If we wanted to overturn this law with a ballot initiative, because it is moronic-again...elections has consequences. 

-- Gina Derenge

I am writing you as a mental health clinician, and member of the Melbourne Beach community. This letter is to reinstate Ms. Calhoun as teacher/staff member of Satellite High School. I am outraged to see this happening within the community I have lived in for 25 years. We will not let Brevard go further back in time than it already has. It’s sad that 10 to 15 years ago today somehow feels safer with how the school administration treated the LGBTQIA+ community. It has not been ten full years of same-sex marriage being federally legal. This is how we continue to treat the LGBTQIA+ community. I will not see Brevard be the pilot version of project 2025. This is absolutely embarrassing and shameful. Let Ms. Calhoun do her job as a teacher, and let students feel safe in her classroom. Brevard has failed its youth.

-- Alona Rivka Crigger

If this school board is allowed to continue this abomination I want to see many lawsuits filed. Florida’s law goes against every civil right I can think of. Hate to think what this child thinks of her mother.

-- Linda Moore

The teacher issue is unbelievable. We are not talking about a 7 year old. This is a soon to be adult.

I have to ask myself, what kind of parents would do this to a teacher? 

-- Maureen Emswiler  

The Florida rule attempting to control the normal interaction of a teacher with his/her students is contrary to the very foundation of the constitution of the State of Florida as well as that of the United States.

This culture war BS is hardly worthy of a democracy.

Kids have names, nicknames, and "fun" names. I have 3 names- only 1 is Legal, one is on my Baptism Certificate and

Another is what some people call me.

Legally John.. Baptized Ioannis - Many people call me Gianni, my sister -God love her still calls me Johnny, Some friends call me Giannaki (little john) .. And of course there are those who just call me "hey you" 

All this came about because DeathSantis was trying to become president of the US by out trumping trump. 

SO NO- no rational person in my opinion should be supporting this- no teacher should be losing their job over this- and the BSC has reacted in the most cowardly way... The parents of this child seem to have a problem- of all the things about which to complain ..this is the hill you chose? 

God save us- from ourselves.

-- John Grimanis

Schools are a safe place where children should be comfortable to learn. As long as the name is not derogatory the teacher should be allowed to use it.

--Carol Griffin

Personally, I think it’s a teacher‘s job to create empathy with all of their students, and if calling a child by the nickname that he/she chooses is wrong then what is this nation coming to?

--Linda Hinkell

A student may like his or her nickname. Who is making this issue such a big deal? Is this a “lack of control” issue for parents? Come on! These are adolescent years, in which teens are identity forming. Read Erik Erikson’s Stages of Development. Seems like a generational tug-of-war happening, really, wouldn’t you say? 

--Joyce Osterman

My son in high school decided to go by a shortened version of his name. As a young adult I respected his choice. The school did not contact me nor did I expect them to regarding this. This controversial law I disagree with.

--Shari Deane

I feel the law made in 2023 restricts teachers from understanding and relating to students. If my children were still in school, I would join these students in their peaceful protest they had after school. I would also fight BPS if they suspended my children for showing support to said teacher. If they missed certain classes by walking out ahead of time, I would simply tell my student they could call me and I would let them checkout early. Most teachers want to have bonds with their students. I think this is ludicrous and the teacher shouldn’t have lot her job.

--Nicole Poudrier

According to this law, if there is not signed parent permission, a kindergarten teacher who tells a crying student "It's okay, honey" is breaking the law. A teacher who calls Thomas "Tom" is breaking the law. It's totally ridiculous.

--Nancy Johnson

When I had a small problem on the scale like this with one of my kids’ teachers, I went and spoke to them directly and worked things out. I believe this rule is a waste of time and money in an educational setting. No matter how much times change, communication is still a valuable tool… even today. This is disgraceful that a teacher would be fired over something so easily handled in a simple way.

--Debbie Phillips

The Brevard school board’s decision to not renew Mrs. Calhoun’s contract is so jaw-droppingly stupid as to defy belief. By all accounts she has been a very highly effective teacher, beloved by both parents and students alike. She’s gone way above and beyond to help her students fulfill their highest potential, often at great personal cost to herself. For the board to so casually deny the students of this county such a valuable asset and callously destroy the career of such a dedicated educator over an inconsequential culture war technicality is inconceivable. Teaching is an incredibly difficult and thankless career. If the board thinks there’s a conga line of highly skilled teachers clamoring to teach for Brevard they are sadly mistaken. What a tragically short sighted decision to squander such an asset.

--Bert Prytherch

I DO NOT support the 2023 Florida rule. I think if the student is known by a nickname and is happy with the name it should be ok. Some folks got a hideous name and don’t want it used! And this is the first time I have heard of this RIDICULOUS Law.

--Carol Henderson

I entered school not even knowing my 'legal' first name. When the teacher did roll call, she insisted I was that legal name, I cried, then wet my pants - a rocky start to first day of school. For heaven's sake, if a name isn't offensive, call students whatever they ask to be called. Let them choose to be called Bozo if it gives them confidence. Having worked in an elementary school office for 28 years, I can tell you, parents dont sign & return most forms the school sends home. I truly think we've lost our collective minds.

--Lolly (aka Loyola) Westmoreland (nee Murray)

In a time when Florida is losing so many teachers, it is fiscally irresponsible and harmful to students for the BPS board to push for this teacher's termination and loss of teaching credentials. From all accounts the teacher is well respected and effective in her role at SHS. The correct action could have been a letter of reprimand for not following a policy, but it is very transparent that this board and the governor are trying to make an example out of this educator. This action is in stark contrast to other situations where BPS teachers have come under question, yet have remained on duty and/ or have reentered a classroom after much more egregious incidents. This purely political action is crystal clear and our community in Brevard sees it for what it is : an effort to gain favor with Tallahassee at the expense of students at SHS. Serving every student with excellence was certainly not done in this situation

--Liz Mikitarian

There are only two genders - male and female. Teachers should not confuse children and teenagers by addressing them with terms that do not agree with their biological sex. Teachers who promote this kind of harmful nonsense should be terminated.

--Charlie Joe Allen

This issue strikes me as another unnecessary culture war. Please let teachers teach and make basic classroom decisions on their own. You interviewed and hired these teachers, now trust them to do their jobs with integrity.

--Holly Jewell

I voted to voice my support for the teacher in your "Question of the Week" poll. She is being punished for having empathy and compassion and for supporting a student who is very probably facing a difficult if not intolerable home situation.

In just a few weeks or months the 17 year old almost-adult in question will turn 18 and can legally tell their parents "Go to 'Aitch--Eee--Double Hockey Sticks.' My name is..." The parents have achieved a Pyrrhic victory over a caring teacher. It likely will only cost them a future relationship with their child.

-- Gregg Wiggins

I think since that teacher knew what child preferred the teacher should be allowed to address the student by the  preferred name. As a former teacher, our responsibilities don’t allow us  to be on phone with parents checking every move one makes. Being dismissed from the job was ridiculous! I livve here in Satellite Beach; I saw the students with signs supporting their teacher. Do count my vote. We are treated poorly as it is, so teachers aren’t staying 30 yrs as I did!! I thought Covid had shown the parents all we do as they couldn’t even handle the daily lessons.

-- Margaret Haskell

I do not support the legal name rule. It's purpose is to score ignorance points which seems to be the prime goal of the members of the current Brevard school board. If it had value, the parents should be tasked with indicating their preferred name. Consider names of Frank Zappa's children: Moon unit (girl) and Dweezil (boy), Elon Musk's child Exa Dark Siderael (girl) called "Y" or the subject of the Johnny Cash song "A Boy Named Sue".

-- James Beasom

Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres or on Facebook at facebook.com/FTjohntorres.

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