“The amendments deliver a one-two punch to public education in Florida. The right punch comes from the first, which ‘provides that an individual or entity may not be barred from participating in any public program because of religion and to delete the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.’ The effect of this would be to neuter the 1st District Court of Appeal ruling that state-funded vouchers were unconstitutional because they represented ‘indirect support’ of a religious institution. The left punch comes with the second amendment, which changes the current constitutional requirement for the state to provide high-quality, free public schools, making this a minimum, nonexclusive duty. It reverses legal precedent prohibiting public funding of private school alternatives to public school programs without creating an entitlement. In short, public money could be used in aid of churches, and the duty of the state to provide a quality education becomes minimal and nonexclusive, thus permitting vouchers. … Unless you are in favor years of controversy played out in the courts, continued dismantling of public schools, the establishment of a private system not accountable to the state, tax dollars going to religious schools, and the strangulation of beginning efforts at real educational reform, you have a clear choice. You will vote against these amendments.”

-- Kent S. Miller, emeritus professor of psychology at Florida State University

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