The Florida Department of Education has said it has rejected dozens of math textbooks sent by publishers to schools, saying they “contain forbidden topics,” including a critical theory of race.
Why it matters: Several Republican-led states have tried to limit students’ exposure to critical racial theory, or CRT, an academic framework developed in the 1970s by legal scholars that focuses on systemic racism.
- How or not to teach systemic racism in public schools has become a new dividing line in cultural wars, said Russell Contreras of Axios. Critics say the so-called CRT bans ultimately limit any discussion of diversity, according to Contreras.
By numbers: 54 of the 132 math books (41%) recently sent for review in the state were identified as “illegal or with new Florida standards, or containing prohibited topics,” according to a statement from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). in Friday.
- 28 (21%) of these books “were not included in the adopted list because they include prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including CRT”, the statement said.
- 14 (11%) “were not included in the adopted list because they do not properly meet BEST standards and do not include prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including CRT”, the statement added.
The big picture: The Republican-controlled Florida House passed a measure in February designed to make it easier to download books that have been found unacceptable.
Details: Most of the rejected books are for primary schools, according to the education department.
- The department said it was “unfortunate that several publishers” “ignored” the 2021 directive and “tried to insert rebranded teaching materials” into books, while others “included banned and divisive concepts such as CRT tenants or other unwanted strategies. for indoctrination despite Prior Notice to FDOE. “
It is worth noting that the education department described the review process as “transparent”, but did not give the names of the rejected textbooks, nor did it provide examples of passages that did not meet the criteria.
What they say: DeSantis said in a statement that he was “grateful” to Richard Corcoran, the outgoing education commissioner, and his team for “checking these textbooks to make sure they are in line with the law.”
- “Some publishers seem to have tried to paint over an old house built on the Common Core and indoctrinating concepts like racial essentialism, especially, oddly enough, for elementary school students,” DeSantis added.
On the other hand, U.S. Attorney Carlos Smith (D) tweeted Saturday that DeSantis “hysterically pulls math textbooks out of Florida schools, claiming they ‘indoctrinate’ children with CRT.”
- “It’s not just crazy right-wingers – they will then spend MILLIONS of tax dollars, forcing schools to buy math textbooks from donors to the GOP campaign,” Smith added.
Go deeper: The New York Public Library makes some banned books free for everyone
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