Created: 11/19/2009 9:19:08 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- State educators have been slapped with a lawsuit from parents, and even students. The lawsuit claims Florida public school are not properly educating children, something lawmakers and educators disagree with.
The right to an education is something Eunice Barnum of Jacksonville believes is being denied to many youngsters in her community and across the state.
"There are children who cannot read, even though they are in elementary school," said Barnum, who is the guardian for two children attending school on the Northside.
Barnum and the children are named in the lawsuit filed against the Florida State Board of Education.
The lawsuit claims too many children are failing crucial tests and dropping out. It also points to disparities in education between Caucasians, Hispanics, and African Americans.
"I live it everyday. I help people. I see the evidence of when you do not educate them and they have to hang on street corners and cannot get employed," said Barnum.
Senator Stephen Wise chairs the Education Committee and said students are getting a fair education. He believes the lawsuit will do more harm than good.
"We are to going to take hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend the lawsuit by the State of Florida, which could go into dollars for young people," said Wise.
Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith is also named in the lawsuit.
He said, "It's unfortunate that this lawsuit diminishes the significant progress that has been made by our children over the last decade and simply ignores the performance of a state that is clearly outpacing the nation. Our African-American and Hispanic students have experienced unprecedented academic improvements and have significantly narrowed the achievement gap in Florida, our graduation rate has steadily improved, and state and national assessments all show tremendous progress. I believe Florida's education system has achieved incredible results that clearly speak for themselves and are not represented in this complaint."
However, Barnum stands firm, and said something has to change the state's public schools.
"Year after year, generation after generation, the failure among African American students finally gets addressed," said Barnum.
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