Florida authorities are again facing criticism over educational standards that this time relate to the handling of course content that covers sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Florida state Department of Education has reportedly directed that the entirety of the Advanced Placement (AP) course in psychology not be taught, excluding content in those areas. The DeSantis team’s approach appears to be to treat discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity as either inappropriate or pushing a specific ideology, though these facets of identity and experience are generally understood to be foundational. The action from the state authorities, which the College Board says effectively invalidates the course if taught according to those specifications, follows an administrative expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” law through the entirety of high school in Florida.
The law, given that nickname not by supporters but by opponents, broadly prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in public school settings. Florida authorities including GOP Governor and struggling presidential contender Ron DeSantis have cast some of their action as protecting children, though there is no evidence of some kind of systematic threat to children from the existence of LGBTQ+ people.
“Remember when DeSantis was adamant that his “don’t say gay” law was about “protecting” kindergarteners?” Chasten Buttigieg remarked online this week. “Now he doesn’t think the smartest high schoolers taking college-level courses can handle the existence of LGBTQ people.” Chasten Buttigieg is husband to Pete Buttigieg, the current U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Florida authorities also continue facing criticism over new educational standards that direct the teaching to middle school students of purported benefits for those who suffered through U.S. slavery. The benefits allegedly consisted of personally usable skills. A list of people claimed as examples by the state team behind these educational standards included individuals who historical records didn’t indicate were ever enslaved or who developed their well-known skills after being freed. Booker T. Washington, for instance, was freed as a child before becoming a well-known educator.
Remember when DeSantis was adamant that his “don’t say gay” law was about “protecting” kindergarteners? Now he doesn’t think the smartest high schoolers taking college-level courses can handle the existence of LGBTQ people. https://t.co/MIQvaNNpJ2
— Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten) August 3, 2023
