We have noted before that Critical Race Theory can get a bit out there when it comes to grad school and law school studies. But then again, nearly every subject can get a bit out there at the grad school level. But as it comes to elementary, junior high, and high school? It is nothing more than telling the truth. Period. Florida doesn’t want the truth taught to Floridian students, it wants to perpetuate a giant lie.
Florida not only banned Critical Race Theory, Ron DeSantis didn’t just make an ass of himself while addressing it, but Florida managed to pull off the ultimate in Florida being Florida, it utilized the worst language and worst demands on Florida’s teachers.
As reported on CNN [1]: “After hours of debate and public comment Thursday, the Florida State Board of Education unanimously approved the amendment banning critical race theory. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed much of the board, spoke ahead of the meeting, saying critical race theory would teach children ‘the country is rotten and that our institutions are illegitimate.’
Teachers in Florida “may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence.”
But they cannot say that the principles were not used universally? Teachers cannot point out the fact the United States violated those principles in a manner that couldn’t possibly be worse? Florida’s multi-racial students, including many Black American children, are supposed to sit beside their white friends and hear that the United States was or is anything but “exceptional”? Always? Even now?
The language in the policy was blasted by famous historian Kevin Kruse:
“Teachers ‘may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence’ is nine kinds of nonsense, starting with the fact that the Declaration, uh, didn’t create a new nation,”
Well, yes, technically they had to fight a war and then create a government, sure. Sigh. Florida is pathetic.
And then Kruse really let them have it and we thank Rawstory [2] for the quotes:
“Let’s ignore that howler from these legislators who *really* know their facts. We’re forbidden from defining American history as anything other than the *creation* of the new nation?” You’re not allowed to teach anything besides the founding? There’s a lot more, you know!”
Yes, we know and they know. They just want it suppressed so as to further their policies.
“But let’s back up a sec. You’re not allowed to suppress or distort the atrocities of the Holocaust, but if there’s something akin to that in American history — HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, OF COURSE — you *have* to suppress and distort that? Because of reasons?”
A heart-breaking point. We are to “never forget” the holocaust in Germany, but we ignore our multi-century version.
“This is all so incredibly depressing and stupid, largely because the people trying to dictate and control the teaching of American history apparently never took a single damn class in the subject themselves.”
This is the only point on which we disagree. They took enough history to know this is a damned lie. It is not education, it is indoctrination.
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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak