Backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign against critical race theory, the State Board of Education on Thursday approved a rule that places controversial guidelines on the way U.S. history is taught in public schools.
Some activists, parents, and teachers, say teaching about institutionalized racism is necessary to combat racism. Author: First Coast News Staff Published: 8:18 AM EDT June 10, 2021 Updated: 9:08 AM EDT June 10, 2021
On Thursday morning, the Florida State Board of Education will vote on what educators can teach about institutionalized racism.
Governor Ron DeSantis wants to get rid of the teaching concept known as critical race theory, but others say teaching it is necessary to combat racism.
Before the state board of education meets to vote at Florida State College at Jacksonville at 9 a.m., local activists held a news conference to voice their opposition to what DeSantis wants to do.
The board, meeting in Jacksonville, voted after members of the public squared off on the rule, with some saying it would whitewash history and others saying it would prevent Marxist theory from being taught in Florida classrooms.
Guest column: Investigate protest bail hearings
Your turn
Last May, the Northside Coalition and the Jacksonville Community Action Committee united to spearhead protests after the police involved killing of George Floyd.
While the protests throughout the nation were mainly peaceful, over 50 Jacksonville citizens who were improperly arrested for engaging in nonviolent protests were denied a reasonable bail.
There has not been a full accounting or explanation of why Judges Bateh and Wilkinson denied a reasonable bail to these nonviolent protesters! Despite their guilt, so far, the judges have escaped scrutiny, penalty or punishment for their questionable and controversial handling of the bail hearings.
A school board in Florida has voted 5-2 in favor of renaming six Jacksonville public schools so they are no longer named for leaders of the former Confederacy who sought to perpetuate slavery.