“The War Will Be Won in Education”

ByAccountabaloney

I recently became aware of a YouTube video of a speech given by Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran, as part of a Hillsdale College Lunch Lecture entitled “Education is Freedom.” The video was posted on May 14, 2021 and can be watched here. In it, Corcoran makes it clear that winning the battle between the right and the left will depend on who controls Education.

Corcoran was introduced by Hillsdale College President, Larry Arnn, as “one of the most important men in the United States today.” Hillsdale College is a small private Christian college in Michigan which is considered to be one of the most conservative in the country. Part of Hillsdale College’s mission involves advancing the establishment of Classical Charter schools through its Barney Charter School Initiative. Such schools vow to provide public school children “instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.” Richard Corcoran’s wife founded a Barney Charter School Initiative Charter and Hillsdale College was intimately involved in the embedding of Civics education into the writing of Florida’s new B.E.S.T. standards.

I encourage you to watch the lecture. The Q&A period is pretty interesting (begins at 20:30).

The first question comes from a Classical Charter School board member who suggests America needs a massive change in its education system and wonders if, beyond opening more Barney Charter Schools, does Corcoran see Florida schools changing for the better?

Corcoran responds (at 22:10) “Absolutely, but it’s volatile.” He explains that Ron DeSantis won Governor’s race in 2018 by just 30,000 votes. and imagines if Andrew Gillum had become the governor and “along comes Gwen Graham and all of the radical left and what they’d do to our school system.” Corcoran goes on to explain that Republican’s have won the Florida Governor’s race by razor thin margins in each race since 1998. He shudders to think what might happen if a democrat were ever to win the office.

“We just got done with the legislative session on Friday and passed another 1.2 million kids are eligible for choice in Florida. It happens, but I will tell you, leadership is everything. And as soon as that leadership changes everything else does, too. That’s the reality. 

In the world that we live in Education it is 100% ideological and, so, in no time … what we have to do is cross the Rubicon and we’re very close … I always say the three things that have changed education are accountability… absolutely, the second we flipped on the lights, and a parent became aware (despite liking their child’s teachers, school, etc)… we flip on the lights and say “that’s an “F” school,” immediately change happened and people became frustrated and angry… so that’s really changed Florida more than anything… the second was this advancement of choice, so we have 3 million school children, if we can ever get to 1.5 million across that Rubicon, we’re probably there now with about half a million children in choice because… even if you had a Gwen Graham or Andrew Gillum or whoever comes in, a Nancy Pelosi in Florida, you can’t take those 500,000 kids and bring them back into the public school system. So you have to keep doing what we’re doing as quickly as we’re doing… Dr. Arnn was talking about Tennessee asking for 100 Barney Initiative Charter Schools, that’s a game changer, once you have that and the governor leaves… and its a liberal that comes in, you can’t put the animals back in the barn.” 

The next question (at 26:20): The audience member says “It seems like a very ideological debate that we’re having and not always connected to outcomes in a beneficial way. It appears that quite frequently, it’s hard to find common ground.” He then asks Commissioner Corcoran what approach helps him find common ground with “people who may have an adverse reaction to your ideological position?” Corcoran’s response:

“The way I have found common ground is, literally, I have fought… because they will roll over you… I always say, I’m always open, I’ll sit down with anybody and have that discussion… I think if you’re talking about people, you know, can a Joe Biden sit down and have a conversation with a Tom Cotton? Yes I think they can. But I’m talking on the outer sides, and really it’s the outer left, they… there’s no negotiation. I don’t think Antifa wants to sit down with me and have a conversation about how can we make the society better? And again, Dr. Arnn gave a great analogy about the warring in the street in Germany pre-World War 2, was between the Nazis and the Communists and the Nazis ultimately won and Hitler became the leader of the Nazi street fighters. That’s what I think you’re seeing with Antifa and what have you, what they want is complete upheaval. And so those people… where necessary I’ll sit with them but I think we need to be efficient and very strategic in how we go about what we’re doing and the war will be won in Education.

If we can get Education right, we can have kids be literate and then understand what it means to be a self-governing citizen in a self-governing country, we’ll win it back. I think Dr Arnn again… he said Education is our sword, you know, that our weapon is education and we can do it and we can get it right. And I do think… I try not to sound biased, but we are willing to sit down. We are willing to have those conversation and we are willing to look at the Science… I think we’re willing to have those conversations, we’re willing to be rational, we’re willing to look at the Science and the facts… I mean the truth is the truth. This room believes in truth, we believe it’s objective… the truth is the truth but they want to deny that… I mean the whole argument on university campuses is there is no truth, it’s all subjective. And so there’s going to be a battle and so sit down, have that discussion, be transparent, be open – always, I think all of us would do that- but the way we’re going to get to where we’re going to get is by fighting every step of the way. It will be a battle and we will have to fight. And, as Winston Churchill says, all the other virtues are great but courage is the most important because without it none of the others are possible.”

The next question (at 33:30) is regarding curriculum and the state’s role in oversight of local curriculum. The woman tells a story of dressing up like Pilgrims for Thanksgiving and two young guests (ages 8 and 10 years old) put a damper on the feast by not knowing the name of the Mayflower, referring to “Indians” as “Indigenous People” and suggesting the Pilgrims “came to kill” them. She suggested that the children’s school (described as “very progressive” by their mother) was indoctrinating them. “All of these years our children have been reading books, being taught books, that present things a certain way and I bet you that a good majority of parents are totally unaware.” She also suggested that “Critical Race Theory has permeated our curriculum” and asked “Who decides what books are going to be used in instruction?”  Corcoran responded:

“That’s a great question. So we’ve fought that battle and we still fight it on a daily basis. And there’s multiple ways you can fight it. First we rewrote all our standards. We’re on a 5 year book adoption… so we disrupted the whole book adoption because we rewrote our whole standards. And we rewrote them with the Science of Reading, we have the first in the nation – a Civics reading list from Kindergarten all the way to 12th grade, we have a reading list for all other courses, its content rich and the quick answer… is content matters, that’s the vocabulary matters as much as the decoding. So we rewrote all of our standards, we did all of that stuff and then we do a book adoption… and now all the publishers – and the publishers are just infested with liberals – so we would have to say to them in our bid specs: we’re not going to approve your bid unless you have…  a certain percent of our reading list has to be in your text. You can have no Whole Language or Blended Literacy or anything. It has to be the Science of Reading. And we went through a whole criterion and, then, when the books came in we evaluate the books on the criterion we set … so now the books have come back and… of course Covid came in and I got a little distracted… but I didn’t think to say “okay and keep all of the crazy liberal stuff out” and so now we literally have them, and they hide it in “social emotional learning” so it doesn’t say “Critical Race Theory” but you could definitely have a teacher who teaches Critical Race Theory so now we have to go back and say, if it’s electronic, we want it out and, on top of that, we’re passing a rule this coming month that says, for the 185,000 teachers, you can’t indoctrinate students with stuff that’s not based on our standards, the new B.E.S.T. standards…

But you have to police it on a daily basis, it’s 185,000 teachers in a classroom with anywhere from 18-25 kids and it you’re not physically there in the classroom. I will tell you it’s working in the universities and it’s starting to work in… I’ve censored or fired or terminated numerous teachers for doing that. I’m getting sued right now in Duval County … because it was an entire classroom memorialized to Black Lives Matter… we made sure she was terminated and now we’re being sued by every one of the liberal left groups for “freedom of speech” issues and I say to them … “look let’s not even talk about whether it’s right or true or good what you have there… my issue is, when you’re a third grade teacher and only 42%… of your kids are on grade level … why don’t you do me a favor, get them on grade level and then we’ll have that discussion. Make them at least be able to read and understand it first.” To try to not act like I’m radical right or whatever they want to call me. But it’s a constant vigil and fight. It’s a terrible battle.“

[For the record: The Duval County teacher he refers to taught 12th grade English Literature (not third grade) and was dismissed when she refused to remove a Black Lives Matter flag from her classroom’s doorway.]

I’m going to just leave Commissioner Corcoran’s comments here. Listen to him speak. I believe his words speak for themselves. Like the second questioner surmised this “seems like a very ideological debate that we’re having and not always connected to (academic) outcomes in a beneficial way.” Florida’s new B.E.S.T. standards have been written to “keep all the crazy liberal stuff out.” Under Corcoran’s leadership, the goal, it appears, is not to improve outcomes at all but to wield education as a sword, battle Antifa and win the country back. And he intends to get there by fighting every step of the way.

Similar Posts

143 Comments

  1. “I’ve censored or fired or terminated numerous teachers for doing that.”
    No, Commissioner Corcoran, you have not. You do not hire and fire teachers. Local school boards do that. It is telling that you would claim to have that power. Comparing the ‘fight’ to the pre-World War 2 conflict in Germany between the Nazis and Communists shows that you do not value democracy as neither is based on democratic ideals.
    Finally, the Duval County teacher has been removed from her classroom pending the outcome of an investigation. She has not been fired. In response, she has filed a lawsuit with the help of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

  2. And here I was this whole time thinking it was antifa and the radical left trying to indoctrinate our children.

  3. Just reading this makes me sick to my stomach. I’m going to need to wait until I don’t have food in my stomach and have taken plenty of Tums before I watch the video.

  4. If Corcoran is talking about the teacher that refused to remove the banner that said “black lives matter”, is he saying HE was responsible for having her removed? I did hear that the banner was in the classroom for a long time. No one complained until the public was invited to the school to discuss the changing of the school’s name. I read somewhere that they guy who said Jesus didn’t oppose slavery” was the one who complained. Did he complain to Corcoran and it was Corcoran who forced the school district to remove Amy from her classroom?

  6. If you want to understand the thinking of these folks, read Rod Dreher’s “The Benedict Option.” It will turn your stomach, but it really should be read by everyone who wants to understand the radical right and its war on our culture, including public education. He devotes an entire chapter to damning public schools and condemning those of us who send our children to them. He promotes private “Classical” schools (actually, they aren’t all that Classic as it is a 20th century invention) and “Classical” homeschooling. The whole book argues for the self-declared “orthodox” Christians to withdraw from their geographic communities and neighbors and form insular communities inhabited only by people who believe like them. It actually strikes me as cultish. My wife and I just left our church when they invited this vile man to speak in our building. We’ll have none of it.

  7. Governor DeSantis’ true character in having appointed neo-fascist Corcoran as Florida Education Commission is further defined by his appointing Dr. Lapado as the State’s Surgeon General. Either of them, and the governor who should know better, are foes of democracy in America. But people dumb enough to vote for DeSantis get what they deserve. The rest of us suffer.

  8. Pingback: DeSantis Endorsed School Boards Continue to Wreak Havoc – accountabaloney
  9. Pingback: Florida Legislature Poised to Give Preferential Treatment to Charter Schools With Conservative Political Agendas – Accountabaloney

  31. Most decent PayID online casinos still get your withdrawal sorted within 24 hours, which easily beats cards or e wallets. That’s exactly why so many Australian players prefer using PayID for real money games these days. I track how fast payouts land, what limits they set on PayID casino withdrawals and if https://forum.okehampton.org/d/17-payid-pokies-facebook-real-money-no-deposit-bonus-for-aussie-players withdrawals are really available.

  32. Einige online Casinos bieten für bestimmte Einzahlungsmethoden sogar spezielle Extra-Boni – prüfen Sie aber immer die Bonusbedingungen. HomeMobile Casino ZahlungsmethodenCasino mit Sofortüberweisung – Beste Sofort Casinos 2026 Bei der Zahlung im Online Casino Sofortüberweisung zu nutzen, garantiert die schnelle Ausführung der Einzahlung, ohne dass ein separates Nutzerkonto oder eine nochmalige Verifizierung notwendig sind. Ein Klick auf das Sicherheitsschloss-Symbol daneben führt zu weiteren Informationen über die eingesetzten Zertifikate auf der Website. Die gesetzten Limits unserer Casino-Empfehlungen für Auszahlungen erhöhen sich in der Regel mit dem Spielumsatz und sind für normale Nutzer meist vollkommen ausreichend.

    References: https://forum.datatableswebutility.net/public/d/2-bestes-sofort-casino-sicher-einzahlen-schnell-auszahlen

  45. At casinos, it is generally a deposit method, so you need to check the available cash-out options separately and confirm any limits attached to voucher payments. Always check the cashier page for confirmation, as fee policies vary slightly between operators. Having a few spins on online pokies is an Australian pastime, and you’ll find thousands of titles at the best Neosurf online casinos. Some https://forum.asqatasun.org/t/neosurf-offshore-casinos-australia-payments-risks/1197 include the voucher in their list of eligible payment methods for welcome packages. For example, if you live in Newtown, NSW, you’ll quickly discover that Kings Newsagency at 339 King St is an option.

  46. The transfer of funds usually occurs in banking institutions or cash offices. If you use a https://ewicare.com/forum/tema/choosing-wire-transfer-casino-bonus-australia-made-simple/ casino, we recommend routinely monitoring your bank account to make sure no unauthorised wires have occurred. Once both parties are authorised, the bank sends the funds you requested to your online casino. In total, a bank wire is a costly way to fund your casino.

  53. But keep in mind that they also come with unique terms and conditions that you must read before applying. These promotions have the power to attract new players as well as keep the existing ones happy. The https://forum.wire.foundation/d/1563-general come with a wide selection of casino bonuses and promotions. You’re conducting all types of transactions with just the use of your phone number or email address. Licenced PayID casino sites are extremely safe and secure for online gaming. They can easily provide you with an enjoyable gaming experience that can possibly lead to some solid profits.

  78. Wer per Klarna Sofort eingezahlt hat, erhält die Auszahlung auf das Bankkonto zurück, das für die Sofortüberweisung genutzt wurde — per klassischer SEPA-Überweisung, nicht per Sofort-Rücktransfer. Klarna Sofort ist in Deutschland fast ausschließlich eine Einzahlungsmethode. Voraussetzung ist ein deutsches Girokonto mit aktiviertem Online-Banking — ein separates Klarna-Konto wird nicht benötigt, da Sofort direkt auf das Bankkonto zugreift. Klarna kategorisiert Glücksspielplattformen in seiner Merchant-Datenbank so, dass Rechnungskauf und Ratenzahlung systemseitig nicht angeboten werden.

    References: https://www.argcsoficial.com.ar/community/topic/casino-sofort-banking-einzahlen-kosten-auszahlung/

  98. These promotions have the power to attract new players as well as keep the existing ones happy. Among the most popular games that you can enjoy here are the PayID withdrawal pokies, table games, and live dealer games. Operators allow you to use PayID to apply for any available deposit bonus. The best https://forum.pplpeople.com/public/d/16-australian-online-casino-payid-worth-trying come with a wide selection of casino bonuses and promotions. This payment method even lets you use multiple PayID accounts on different bank accounts.

  99. Some players simply do not want to keep a meaningful portion of their casino bankroll in crypto between sessions. If your bank and casino both support PayID, traditional bank transfer should be considered a fallback for large or unusual transactions, not a primary payid withdrawal casino alternative for regular play. Error risk is also meaningfully lower with Pay ID — short identifiers and name confirmation replace the long BSB and account number strings that are unforgiving of typos. Pay ID is not the only way to fund an account at casinos with PayID, but in 2026 it is often the most practical choice for Australian players across both https://sikhforum.de/forum/topic/best-free-credit-pokies-payid-real-money/ sessions and table game play. Every casino on this list supports Australian dollars as a native currency across all payid pokies real money activity.

  104. Online Casinos mit Trustly erhalten die verschlüsselten Transaktiondaten von dem Zahlungsdienst. Es bietet eine schnelle, sichere und einfache Möglichkeit, Geld einzuzahlen und abzuheben. Gehen Sie einfach zur Kasse Ihres Online https://forums.pathacks.com/d/44-trustly-roulette-zahlungen-sicherheit-und-spielregeln, wählen Trustly als Auszahlungsmethode und geben den Betrag ein, den Sie abheben möchten. Sie bieten eine schnelle, sichere und einfache Möglichkeit, Geld in lizenzierten Online-Casinos einzuzahlen und abzuheben. Nutzt Echtzeit-Zahlungsnetzwerke, sodass Transaktionen sofort abgewickelt werden Klassische Banküberweisungen gehören zu den Zahlungsmöglichkeiten, mit denen du Einzahlungen vornehmen und Gewinne von deinem Casino-Konto abheben kannst.

  108. Schnelle und bequeme Zahlungen sind durch Optionen wie PayPal und Paysafecard gewährleistet. Dazu bietet Löwen Play eine erstklassige mobile Version, die Spielern Flexibilität und Komfort beim Spielen liefert. Alles zur Trustly Casino Auszahlung, zu Spielen, Boni und Sicherheit klärt unser Test. In den besten https://primevil.co.uk/forum/topic/68/ Casinos für deutsche Spieler ist das schon längst Standard! Mit Trustly ist das Ein- und Auszahlen im Online Casino jetzt einfacher denn je. Dies ist die Regel, wobei es mittlerweile kleine Ausnahmen gibt.

  122. You’ll find that the “best https://cybreongames.com/forum/topic/up-in-arms-about-bpay-online-pokies-australia/” listings are littered with marketing fluff promising “instant funding” while the actual transaction drags its feet for hours, sometimes days. Bpay, the century‑old bill‑pay system, somehow survived the rise of instant wallets and now tries to masquerade as a “fast” casino deposit method. You’ll need an active Australian bank account with online banking access and registration at a casino that offers BPAY deposits. Using BPAY at casino sites requires a few simple steps that most Australian players find straightforward.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *