Reaction to the new rule is mixed across the Treasure Coast, with some parents and educations supportive and some strongly against.
A push to ensure critical race theory — a movement that examines the intersection of race, law and equity — out of the classroom got a stamp of approval from the Florida Board of Education Thursday, yet is receiving mixed reactions from parents, teachers and school district officials across the Treasure Coast. The board approved new, tougher guidelines on how teachers deliver U.S. history, civics and government lessons with an added emphasis on patriotism and the U.S. Constitution. The vote, which followed a contentious debate and dozens of speakers who spoke both in favor and against the measure, comes as other states have introduced bills that would prevent teachers from teaching “divisive,” “racist,” or “sexist” concepts. Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in via video, arguing that Florida should be teaching “history that is factual” and not “trying to craft narratives in history that are not grounded in fact.” Further, DeSantis said, critical race theory is “trying to bring ideology and political activism into the forefront of education.” Previous coverage: Dept. of Education’s Richard Corcoran says he wants critical race theory out of Florida classrooms More: One year of COVID-19: Masks, vaccinations and remote learning for Treasure Coast schools Newsletters: TCPalm launches four additional newsletters to help you stay updated on local news The issue recently has made its way to the Treasure Coast, sparking debate among parents and community members at school board meetings. Opponents often use conservative talking points, arguing the teaching of critical race theory would indoctrinate students and create division among them based on race; supporters say it’s more about teaching through a lens of systemic racism and equity. Thursday’s decision came as no surprise to Kevin Browning, chair of Indian River County schools’ Equity Committee. The issue has been most prevalent in Indian River, where the district remains under a decades-old federal desegregation order and where officials recently were met with swift pushback over plans to hire a chief equity and diversity officer.
