In Florida, A Bill To Stop “Woke” Teacher Training
From Forbes.com
Florida’s GOP lawmakers have taken numerous steps in their attempt to block CRT, DEI, “divisive” history, and all manner of woke threats from public school classrooms. Now they are trying to plug one more hole in the dike by outlawing any sort of “woke” teacher training.
HB 1291 attempts this feat by adding two paragraphs to the law covering teacher training in the state. Under the bill, teacher preparation, school leadership, and professional certificate program courses
1. May not distort significant historical events or include curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
Like most anti-woke legislation, the bill includes some very vague language. Exactly how much interpretation of an historical event qualifies as distortion, and what qualifies as “significant”? Is it a distortion to teach primary grade students that the pilgrims wore buckled hats and that the first Thanksgiving was an unambiguous celebration of the bond between settlers and the Wampanoag. Would Hamilton be prohibited because the founding fathers did not sing, dance, or rap?
Who will determine that an event has been distorted? Will MAGA officials be able to charge distortion if a teaching program references the 2020 Presidential election as clearly and legitimately won by Joe Biden? Who will be in charge of curating the list of historical events that are “significant”?
1. May not distort significant historical events or include curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
Two things.
First thing: I do not need to distort historical events; the facts speak for themselves.
Second thing: Um, well, Institutions and laws WERE created to privilege some over others. Like, explicitly. Again, no distortion necessary.