Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has had what he calls “woke” education in his crosshairs for some time. Now the results of his fascist curriculum are rearing their ugly heads in a sixth-grade history classroom in Bradenton, Florida, where a teacher used the Big Lie as evidence of media bias.
The Daily Beast reports that kids were sent home with a worksheet titled “How Does a Historian Work?” to prepare for a test the following day. A parent, who declined to use her name, told the outlet she was shocked when she saw it.
The worksheet offered a list of vocabulary words: evidence, source, primary source, secondary source, reliable source, and point of view. But when it came to the word “bias,” things got strange and scary fast.
RELATED STORY: ‘Mind-blowing what they tried to convince us of’: Florida teachers on new, ‘very skewed’ curriculum
Campaign Action
The worksheet used the below example to define the word bias:
The media is often biased and will add words that persuade you to think one way or another. Read these two statements made by reporters after the 2020 election.
President Trump made claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
President Trump made false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
The first sentence is just giving you information, while the second leads you to believe he is wrong before you have all the facts.
Let’s start with a reality check. The “facts” in the worksheet are facts. No matter how many times former President Donald Trump, his millions of minions, or some MAGA Florida teacher say it, the election was unequivocally not stolen, and that fact remains. Joe Biden won the 2020 election fair and square.
“It’s actually the most biased example of bias I’ve seen,” the mother told The Daily Beast, adding, “It seems pretty out of place for a sixth-grade class.”
Parents shared copies of the worksheet on social media, and another unnamed parent anonymously wrote a statement via The Daily Beast.
“I am very unhappy that the teacher would choose such a controversial example in an assignment supposedly teaching bias in a world history class. There are so many other examples that could have been used. And the way this question is phrased would lead a student to believe that the media was incorrect in their assessment that the president’s claims were false. … I would also add it is inappropriate to be using this example at a time when Trump is STILL disputing the results of the 2020 election two years later and demanding a do over!"
After pressure from parents and a tweet by Ron Filipkowski, a former Florida defense attorney, The Daily Beast reports that the school board of Manatee County released a statement.
“This homework assignment does not meet the expectations of the School District of Manatee County. A thorough review of future homework lessons in this course is taking place and remaining issues related to this assignment will be addressed. … Our students deserve the very best education we can provide in accordance with the curriculum and instructional standards set forth by the State of Florida.”
Just a few days ago, Daily Kos reported on how teachers in Florida are being subjected to new curriculum training sessions designed by DeSantis—who made it unlawful to say the word “gay” and banned the teaching of any social aspects of American history in classrooms because it could make white people feel bad or guilty, citing “critical race theory” even though the graduate-level legal concept has never been taught in K-12 anywhere in America.
The new curriculum comes out of HB 7, called the “Individual Freedom” bill, but is better known as the “Stop WOKE Act.” It essentially bans teachers from teaching racially focused subject matter because it could make students or educators “feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress” based on their “race, color, sex, or national origin.”
Of course, there’s no mention in the new curriculum about Trump or the Big Lie, but it’s obviously a slippery slope when you begin denying history and instead opt for a preferred narrative.
Donald Trump and his MAGA allies came close to overthrowing our democracy on January 6, and they will try again if they win in 2022. The best thing you can do is to help get out the Democratic vote for the midterms, and we need everyone to do what they can. Click here to find all the volunteer opportunities available.