On Thursday, after contentious debate, the Florida State Board of Education unanimously approved an amendment barring educators from teaching critical race theory. The amendment states that topics must be “factual and objective” and bans controversial content such as The 1619 Project from the New York Times.
The new rules say classroom instruction “must be factual and objective, and may not suppress or distort significant historical events.” It goes on to mention the Holocaust, slavery and the Civil War, as well as the civil rights movement and the contributions of Blacks, Hispanics and women to the country.
But it also makes specific mention of “theories that distort historical events” that are inconsistent with board policy, including any teaching that denies the Holocaust or espouses critical race theory, which the new rules say asserts “that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons.”
Governor Ron DeSantis, who also appointed a majority of members in the Florida State Board of Education, is a staunch opponent of critical race theory, stating that it “teaches kids to hate our country and to hate each other. It is state-sanctioned racism and has no place in Florida schools”. DeSantis stated the amendment would prevent indoctrination of students at the expense of factual information. In addition, in support of the amendment, DeSantis repeats the saying: “You can put lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig.” He also states that critical race theory is based on “false history”.
“It’s also based on false history,” DeSantis said at a press conference in May. “When they try to look back and denigrate the Founding Fathers, denigrate the American Revolution, doing all these different things that even very liberal historians say is not supported by the facts.”
Although the ban on critical race theory has its proponents who believe that critical race theory is “not teaching the truth”, the ban does not come without its critics. Many believe that it is a form of censorship, while some believe that it may lead to critical race theory being, in fact, factual.
Some educators believe that teaching the less savory side of America’s founding would be beneficial.
“I think Critical Race Theory is just asking us to take a critical look, not an emotional one, not just an ideological one, but just a critical look at how systems are created in this country and saying, ‘Yeah, you know what America, we got a lot of work to do,'” said Shawanda Bonner Morgan, an English teacher in Polk County Schools.
But Bonner Morgan says sometimes, the truth is a little uncomfortable.
“If we give in to the white rage and the white backlash that we have seen in every generation, all we’re going to end up seeing is maybe my granddaughter, my grandson, and maybe your grandchild sitting here talking about the same thing 60 years from now,” said Bonner Morgan.
Critical race theory has been the culture war du jour among American conservatives. States such as Idaho and Tennessee have passed laws in response to the rise in critical race theory. In addition, residents of Southlake, Texas have voted in droves for school board members that oppose critical race theory.