The Florida Board of Education has approved a controversial set of academic standards for African American social studies courses in K-12 schools.
THE standardswho are released as Governor Ron DeSantis and other Florida Republicans pursue a Crusade against public educationinclude language that states that “slaves developed skills which, in some cases, could be applied to personal advantage”.
The standards guide says the instruction will also include mention of “violence perpetrated against and by African Americans.” He adds that students will learn to “identify” famous black people, but that doesn’t make it necessary for students to learn about each of their contributions, challenges and stories in general.
Earlier this year, the board banned the teaching of advanced-level African American studies in high schools across the state. He claimed the course “significantly lacks educational value” and contradicts Florida law.
The AP course of study, unlike this newly approved set of standards, understand The black feminist thinking of scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw and Bell Hooks, and African-American scholars like Angela Davis. The course also introduces black queer studies, intersectionality, and more.
A group of 11 organizations, including the NAACP, sent a letter to the chairman of the board slamming the decisionaccording to the Tallahassee Democrat.
“We owe the next generation of scholars the opportunity to know the full, unvarnished history of this state and this country and all who have contributed to it – good and bad,” the group of organizations, which also included the Florida Education Association, said in the letter.
In a press release emailed to HuffPost, the Florida Education Association expressed concern about the standards, arguing they distort history and disadvantage Florida students.
“How can our students be equipped for the future if they don’t have a full and honest picture of where we came from,” asked Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association.
“Governor. DeSantis pursues a guaranteed political agenda to play good people off against each other, and in the process he deceives our children. They deserve the full truth of American history, the good and the bad,” Spar added.
The Florida Board of Education did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
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