TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 08: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a victory speech after defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist during his election night watch party at the Tampa Convention Center on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. DeSantis was the projected winner by a double-digit lead. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
The Florida Board of Education had voted that the state would continue teaching students from kindergarten to 12th grade that slavery benefitted black people.
On May 29, the board approved a 217-page document with some changes to Florida’s public school standards. They voted to keep the controversial African American history standards.
In July 2023, Florida approved educational standards for middle schoolers that included lessons teaching that enslaved people received a “personal benefit” from slavery.
The curriculum provoked enormous protests in Florida, particularly from teachers’ groups.
The Florida Board of Education had approved these standards, and teachers would have to teach their students that enslaved people “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
For nearly a year, black communities across Florida, led by elected officials and religious leaders, petitioned the state’s Department of Education, state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the State Board of Education to change the lesson.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida) shared his opposition to the new African American standards in an X post.
“The new African-American standards in FL are good, robust, & accurate,” Donalds wrote. “That being said, the attempt to feature the personal benefits of slavery is wrong & needs to be adjusted. That obviously wasn’t the goal & I have faith that FLDOE will correct this.”
In July, DeSantis advocated for many guidelines on black history.
“D.C. Republicans all too often accept false narratives,” DeSantis stated at the time. “[They] accept lies that are perpetrated by the left. And to, you know, accept the lie that has been perpetrated even when that has been debunked… that’s not the way you do it,” he added.
“The way you do it [is] to fight back against the lies… is to speak the truth,” he mentioned. “So, I’m here, defending my state of Florida against false accusations and lies. We’re going to continue to speak the truth.”
Board Vice Chairman Ryan Petty claimed that rules and standards approved by the board are made with input from educators.
“The notion that we’re not out engaged with educators and engaged with teachers in developing these rules is false,” Petty asserted.
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