Florida’s new education standards, which require middle school students to learn about the skills slaves developed for their personal benefit, are facing backlash from teachers, activists, and community members. The curriculum change comes as Governor Ron DeSantis continues his campaign against “woke” ideology and has rejected courses that include lessons on reparations and Black queer studies. The governor’s office defends the changes, stating that enslaved people did develop skills that they used to provide for themselves and others after gaining freedom. However, teachers like Mayade Ersoff, who teaches social studies in Miami-Dade, refuse to adopt or teach the state’s narrative on slavery, arguing that there are no benefits to being enslaved. The controversy has sparked protests and led historians to educate teachers and families outside the classroom.
Protests against the new education standards took place in Miami, with activists and community members marching to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools headquarters. They carried signs and chanted “Teach the truth!” to express their dissatisfaction with the watering down of Black history lessons. Marvin Dunn, a Miami-based historian, has been leading “Teach the Truth” tours to counter the state’s attempt to suppress discussions on race and racism. He believes that the history is being twisted and that lies should not be taught to children.
Teachers and parents are concerned that the changes to the curriculum risk erasing Black history from classrooms. Mildred Slocum, a Florida parent, feels compelled to educate her granddaughter outside of school due to the new standards. She believes that there will never be a benefit to anyone being subjected to the cruelty of slavery. Students like Janiyah Spivey, who attends Design and Architecture Senior High School in Miami, feel that the state is trying to sugarcoat the realities of Black history. They believe that it is important for the community to know and understand what happened in the past.
Critics argue that the new standards and the ban on the AP African American Studies course are part of a broader culture war against progressive ideologies. Teachers are finding it difficult to navigate what they can and cannot say within their classrooms. They believe that the changes will have lasting impacts on students, who will graduate without knowing the truth about Black history. Activists and community members are calling for political change and encouraging people to vote for candidates who embrace the truth about Black history.
In conclusion, Florida’s new education standards on Black history are facing backlash from teachers, activists, and parents who believe that they are erasing the truth and sugarcoating the realities of slavery. The controversy has led to protests and sparked efforts by historians to educate teachers and families outside the classroom. Critics argue that the changes are part of a broader culture war against progressive ideologies. Teachers and parents are concerned about the long-term impact on students and are advocating for political change.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-17 19:24:00
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