Swim Lesson Suzi

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Suzi Teitelman | Swim Lesson Suzi LLC

Two letters. One mission. Teaching Jacksonville to swim.

Published Letters to the Editor

Letter to the EditorThe Florida Times-Union / Jacksonville.comMay 2024

Adult Swim Literacy: Breaking the Generational Cycle

Heading for website display. Not the newspaper's original printed headline.

There is a hidden problem in our community that isn't talked about much and many times joked about, and that is the illiteracy of adults and swimming.

As summer arises and families will be together in the pool, ocean and lakes, many adults will be uncomfortable getting in the water with their kids, let alone teaching them. More than half of adults really don't know how to swim.

When parents weren't brought up as swimmers because their parents couldn't swim, or they had a traumatic experience, it is a never-ending cycle.

Adults who want to be able to enjoy water still have time in their life to learn to love water and swimming.

It is never too early or too late to learn to swim.

— Suzi Teitelman

Letter to the EditorThe Florida Times-UnionSunday, October 11, 2026

Never too late for swim lessons

Original printed headline.

Jacksonville is surrounded by water, but too many families are separated from it by fear. Parents who never learned to swim often cannot practice with their children or model confidence in the water. The pattern then passes quietly from one generation to the next.

Drowning prevention cannot focus only on children. We must invite parents and other adults into the solution, without embarrassment or judgment.

I hope Mayor Donna Deegan and city leaders will make learning to swim a visible Jacksonville priority — through community pools, schools and neighborhood programs. They might even enlist members of the Jacksonville Jaguars and other local public figures to help spread the message.

As an ocean city, Jacksonville could lead a campaign that says swimming is not a luxury, a sport or something people should already know. It is a life skill, and it is never too early (or too late) to learn.

Suzi Teitelman, Jacksonville Beach

Television Coverage

Action News Jax — October 7, 2026

Action News JaxOctober 7, 2026

Suzi Teitelman speaks on adult drowning prevention in Jacksonville.

Watch the original coverage

"It's never too early or too late to learn to swim."

Suzi Teitelman

Swim Lesson Suzi LLC

Jacksonville Beach, Florida

www.swimlessonsuzi.com904-476-2235
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