Gov. Desantis’ Restrictions on Public School Curricula are Egregious
Article by Tai Sandhu, TPT Staff Writer
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida recently rolled out several regulatory measures concerning public school education in his state. They are considered the first wave of a major educational upheaval that could carry over to his expected presidential candidacy. DeSantis, who won his gubernatorial election with a 19% margin, has been a chief advocate against so-called “woke” teachings. Not only is this an assault against Floridians’ first amendment right to free speech, but it will also have deeply troubling repercussions on students who grow up without learning bubble-bursting ideas such as intersectionality and gender studies. Ron DeSantis wishes to raise an entire state, and potentially country, of children with a veiled worldview and limited education, evidenced by his repeated attacks against progressive ideologies.
The first of his policies that sparked the national conversation was his “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,'' fittingly dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This law, which took effect in July of 2022, prohibited public school teachers from discussing gender & sexuality, lumping the topics with legitimately inappropriate unsuitable issues for children, such as sexual content. It harkens back to Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, in which gay people in the armed forces could serve as long as they didn’t make their sexual orientation known. These practices put LGBTQ+ teachers in danger. They risk losing their jobs if they mention their same-sex partner to their students or even wear their wedding ring. With Florida educators already enduring hardships with the lack of gun reform and budget cuts, it is evident that DeSantis does not care about schools— he cares about limiting the progressive agenda.
Photo via NBC News/Marta Lavandier/AP file
DeSantis’ vendettas against race studies are even more extensive. He introduced the “Stop WOKE” Act (thankfully shot down by a judge in November who found it to be a violation of the first and fourteenth amendments), which would ban the teachings of Critical Race Theory and diversity studies. He also has prohibited the 1619 project, a Nikole Hannah-Jones and New York Times junction that examines United States history from the arrival of the first slave ship to the Americas, from classrooms. Furthermore, he disallowed the College Board’s new Advanced Placement African American Studies course from being offered at Florida public schools. In the subsequent revision of the course, many liberal-leaning topics suspiciously disappeared, such as intersectionality, queer African American studies, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Ron DeSantis’ attempts to erase black history ignore the sizable population of black Floridians (17% of the overall population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 census) and prevent white students’ biases from remaining unchecked.
It is important to note that teachers had the option of teaching the aforementioned topics entirely. No law required them to create lesson plans on Critical Race Theory or to offer AP African American Studies for two. No teacher had to state if they were married to someone of the same gender or if they were transgender. But the state made the option available, which is what is important. If an educator feels compelled to educate their students on these topics, it should be accessible for them to do so. However, Governor Ron DeSantis has chosen to promote white supremacy and instill homophobia within the most vulnerable and gullible population- school-age children.
The views articulated in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official stances of The Progressive Teen or High School Democrats of America.