At @PENamerica we coined the term the #EdScare to capture the unprecedented and multifaceted efforts to intimidate teachers, legislate prohibitions on classroom discussions, and ban books. Here’s what this all looks like right now in one state:
Florida.
Florida.
The spotlight has rightfully been on the #DontSayGay bill and its ban on “instruction” about sexual orientation and gender identity. But the Sunshine State has become a hotbed for all kinds of education censorship. /2
First, there’s the “STOP WOKE Act” (HB 7) which has cleared the legislature and is now on its way to DeSantis’s desk. The bill will ban educators from teaching certain concepts related to race in schools & colleges. /3 floridaphoenix.com/2022/03/10/gop…
Then there’s HB 1467, also en route to DeSantis. It will increase scrutiny on ANY and ALL books in schools and give parents greater ability to contest curriculum and reading lists. It mandates a centralized list of banned books be circulated by FL DoE. /4 wtsp.com/article/news/p…
Then there’s also HB 1305, which would prohibit educators from giving ‘harmful material’ to minors and give school districts free reign to remove ‘obscene’ books. Anyone convicted for violating this bill would be guilty of a third degree felony. /5 orlandosentinel.com/politics/fl-ne…
The climate of censorship in the state is having ramifications at the ground level. Look at Jack Petocz, suspended for giving out pride flags at a school protest of the #DontSayGay bill. /6 news-journalonline.com/story/news/edu…
And just last week, the Indian River County school board banned 5 books after Moms for Liberty proposed 156 books to ban. Polk County provisionally pulled 16 books while they review them, including “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan. /7 abcactionnews.com/news/region-po…
Organizations like @FLFreedomRead have emerged in response to these gag orders and book bans, rallying to protect the fundamental right to read and bringing awareness to what's happening on the ground. apnews.com/article/entert…
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