This is a petition for the University of Florida Unified Elementary Proteach Program to implement a class that will train preservice teachers in how to directly teach about race, racism, sexuality, religion, and other social issues in the classroom. We want more training in culturally responsive teaching, education on the social issues we will encounter as teachers, training in research-based practices targeted at teaching about these issues, and exposure to resources like curriculum developed by the Black Lives Matter at School Movement.

 In this program, we are taught that it is part of the job to be culturally responsive, to be inclusive, to meet the needs of all students, and to advocate for all students. I, like many of my fellow teachers, believe in this wholeheartedly. Still, we need more resources and education on how to approach the social issues our students are facing in order to help them to the best of our ability. It is not enough to teach us the sentiment to be inclusive and culturally responsive, we need in-depth education on these issues and training in how to teach our own students about them in a developmentally appropriate way. Our students deserve more than we are currently prepared for. Thank you for your support.