The Florida Department of Education announced that they had rejected more than 30 social studies textbooks and worked with publishers to make changes to more than 45 other textbooks. The announcement is in line with efforts by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature and Department of Education to ensure that textbooks do not include what the leadership considers inappropriate subjects (such as race and gender identity), or topics which might make students feel “guilt or anguish” for past actions committed by their race. Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. stated that their goal is to include materials “that focus on historical facts and are free from inaccuracies or ideological rhetoric.” Opponents of this oversight argue the new rules are politically motivated, preventing students from learning about and discussing important and serious themes such as racism and race relations, sex education, and other topics. One book that was rejected was “Modern Genocides,” a book that teaches about the Holocaust and other examples of genocide. The reasoning is not clear, though it is said that the book included discussion of disallowed “special topics,” a vague standard that includes “critical race theory,” “culturally responsive teaching,” and “social emotional learning.” Another book that was rejected was a social studies book for middle school students about the Hebrew Bible, which the Board said contained “politically charged language.” What question asked in the book was not acceptable to the Board of Education?

Banned Books Week! by San José Public Library is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0