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Governor DeSantis highlights civics programs at Bok Tower Gardens dedication for Calvin Coolidge
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Summary
At a Bok Tower Gardens event tied to America250FL, Governor DeSantis praised Calvin Coolidge, promoted statewide civics initiatives — including a 50-hour teacher 'civic seal' program and expanded speech-and-debate scholarships — and introduced foundation speakers and a student recitation.
Governor DeSantis spoke at Bok Tower Gardens in Polk County to mark the Coolidge dedication and to promote Florida's America250FL civics initiative, highlighting the state's recent education reforms and commemorative work.
DeSantis said Florida has made civics a priority since he took office. "We are leading the nation in civics education," he said, and described measures including a high-school civic literacy assessment instituted in the 2021–22 school year and strengthened K–12 civics standards that span multiple years rather than a single course. He told the audience that the state has launched a "civic seal of excellence" for K–12 teachers, calling it a 50-hour course with about "21,000 teachers that have done the program," a $3,000 bonus for participants and roughly $129,000,000 invested in the effort.
The governor also described an expansion of speech-and-debate programs across all 67 school districts and announced scholarship awards tied to the statewide competition: "$50,000 for first place, $25,000 for second, $15,000 for semifinalists and $10,000 for quarterfinalists," he said, noting the awards are to any Florida school.
DeSantis tied those education policies to a larger argument for limited government and fiscal restraint, praising Coolidge's approach to reducing spending and taxes. He said Florida had reduced its state debt substantially under his administration, saying the state had "paid off 50% of it in 7 years." He also discussed classroom policy changes such as a ban on cell phones, describing teacher support for the move.
Secretary of State Cord Byrd described Bok Tower Gardens' architecture and history and invited the public to participate in America250FL, saying, "That is our official celebration where we are billing ourselves as the fourteenth colony," and noting outreach through exhibits, license plates and social platforms.
Jim Douglas, a former governor of Vermont and a Coolidge Foundation representative, thanked hosts and attendees, invited the public to visit Coolidge's homestead in Plymouth Notch and praised efforts to bring Coolidge's legacy to young people. He introduced University of Florida student Ethan Ackerman, who recited an extended excerpt of Coolidge's 1929 dedication remarks. Ackerman concluded his reading by saying, in part, "I hereby dedicate this mountain lake sanctuary and its singing tower and present them for visitation to the American people."
The event combined ceremonial commemoration of Coolidge's 1929 visit to Bok Tower Gardens with policy promotion for Florida's civics agenda. DeSantis closed by thanking organizers, foundation representatives and local residents and urging continued participation in America250FL.
