We grow up hearing horrid generational stories from our elders of a time when such unimaginable actions against a race were common/possible/okay. Now, we are being academically taught that there was an upside to slavery. Although some Republicans may agree with teaching the “other perspective” of slavery, this is detrimental to the education system and students because it perpetuates historically inaccurate information and bias. Also, Governor Ron DeSantis’ incompetence and neglect is part of putting a self-serving political agenda forward with rippling effects on education.
On July 1st, 2022, the Individual Freedom Bill was officially made effective by Gov. DeSantis. The bill bans certain aspects of critical race theory from being taught in schools K-12. The Governor’s reason for passing this law was not to waste the citizen’s tax dollars to “teach kids to hate this country or to hate each other” but also to prevent “oppressive ideologies opposed upon you without your consent.” However, the citizens in Florida disagree with this bill wholeheartedly.
The Individual Freedom Bill perpetuates historically inaccurate information to students. The bill altered the way racism and slavery were taught in schools, concluding that slaves benefited from such disparities. According to the new academic standards document from the Florida Board of Education, schools will now be required to teach that enslaved people “developed skills, which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” The line has ignited severe controversy, among teacher groups and also the majority of citizens. Students and staff should not be indoctrinated; people send their children to school to learn, to be thinkers, not to be taught what to think. A statement released by the Florida Board of Education by Dr. William Allen and Dr. Frances Presley Rice, members of Florida’s African American History Standards workgroup, defended the teaching point by listing a number of Black Historical Figures who were examples of enslaved people who “developed highly specialized trades from which they benefited.” There’s one significant problem; a number of these given examples were never enslaved at all. The first name listed, blacksmith Ned Cobb, was born in 1885, decades after slavery. Henry Blair, who was the second name listed, was also not enslaved. This shocking ignorance of history by those purporting to write curriculum standards is appalling. This specious argument about gaining skills is outrageous because one of the transgressions was that slavery denied people their freedom, and their skills, and ignored their humanity and voice. And most of all, it denied them control of their own lives. It is unthinkable to look at that mountain of suffering and ask young people to consider some of the benefits. The history we are already taught is from the perspective of the oppressors, now imagine altering the scarce perspective of Black history we already don’t have enough of.
In my opinion, Governor Desantis and his Republican-dominated legislature are part of a nationwide push by conservative politicians to constitute that they are decidedly “anti-woke.” Officials shouldn’t let their personal views affect their policies, especially when those policies are ones citizens disagree with. It speaks volumes that even educators themselves voiced their concerns to their legislators but their opinion was disregarded. Jorje Bastillo, an American History teacher in Okeechobee, Florida, for more than two decades, was one of the many furious about the Individual Freedom Bill. In an interview with neaToday, he stated that he and many other Florida educators went to lobby their legislators and meet “face to face and told them how bad these bills are.” However, their congressmen are so “entrenched in where they are politically and how they’re going to vote” that Jorje felt as if their representatives only met with them “because it’s part of the dog and pony show they put on.” This is extremely telling because legislators pretended to listen to educators but ended up doing whatever they wanted and what was in their best political interest. What good is a governor who doesn’t take his citizens’ opinions into consideration?
In addition, Kelli Stargel, who was a former Republican member of the Florida State Senate at the time the bill passed agrees with the bill because they align with her own Republican political beliefs. Sen. Stargel stated, “But we’re not gonna influence it with an opinion one way or the other.” However, this agenda is being pushed onto not only school administrators but also citizens, the people who voted for you to be in office, despite their disagreement and concerns. Even the Federal Education Association, a statewide teachers union representing about 150,000 teachers condemned the new teaching standards. FEA president Andrew Spar, in a press statement, agreed that Governor DeSantis is “pursuing a political agenda guaranteed to set good people against one another” and that students need to have a “full, honest” depiction of American History in order to be successful adults. Legislators have a predisposed idea of what they want to push out and push it out regardless of anything. This is so detrimental because if kids do not do their own proper research on topics like slavery and its true effects, some will end up believing this false story of slavery benefitting people. Students deserve a correct depiction of American history and what it was founded on so we do not repeat the same mistakes. Infringing on students’ perspectives and views based on a political agenda and one’s own beliefs is not the way to gain their trust.
The Individual Freedom Bill has had rippling effects on education two years later. Before this bill was passed, educators predicted the damaging effects it would have on the curriculum and teaching methods in school. Two years after the Individual Freedom Bill had passed, some educators had to make changes in how to approach their course materials. Particularly Kleber Naula, a professor at the University of Florida who teaches Quechua, an indigenous language from Peru. Since he had learned about the bill his students were also concerned about what that entailed for the university itself and his class for course materials since the Andean culture was heavily impacted by colonialism. In an interview, Naula stated that his class often engages in debates but “Since HB 7, he’s allowed himself to become more of a moderator,” allowing the students to direct the conversations. Naula also concluded that “avoiding topics like colonialism and racism is creating the opposite effect.” Individual Freedom was intended to not make students feel guilt or shame about those certain topics but instead, conversations about racism are being avoided altogether and not being spoken about properly as a result of the bill’s vague language.
Governor DeSantis stated, “We are not gonna tell some kindergartener that they’re an oppressor based on their race and what may have happened 100 or 200 years ago. And we’re not gonna tell other kids that they’re oppressed based on their race,” as his reasoning for passing this bill, which includes his personal feelings. That is not what was occurring at the time, no child was being told that they’re an oppressor based solely on their race, kindergarteners have no idea what that word means anyway nor was this curriculum being taught in elementary schools. American history was simply being taught including all perspectives without making anyone feel responsible for those wrongdoings. Denying that systematic racism exists instead of addressing the root of the problem is ignorant. Ignoring racism is denying history.
Schools should be teaching historically accurate information without bias. Teach authentic and factual information, teach without bias, but most importantly teach the truth. Against his citizens’ wishes and protests, Governor DeSantis’ Individual Freedom Bill perpetuated flawed and misleading details about African American History in school curriculums to further his self-serving political agenda and own beliefs.
No one should be afraid to speak up, especially in a place where they are meant to be learning. Students and teachers alike deserve a place where they are not monitored or censored for speaking the truth on topics like slavery. The path being taken right now regarding education is the wrong one, and it is a repetition of mistakes. Students are entitled to have their own perspectives without being infringed on a point of view that’s historically inaccurate.
The lack of voting in the U.S is a major issue and this is a perfect example of that, the lack of votes essentially votes for politicians you do not want, your vote absolutely matters so if you can, inform yourself and vote because it is not only impacts you but also your children. Take action.
