The statewide debate over how Florida schools teach Black history has continued to grow more intense in recent weeks, as Gov. Ron DeSantis centers his presidential campaign on his "anti-woke" credentials and the African American History Task Force postponed its annual summer teacher training on the subject. With classes set to resume in less than two months, local school districts are getting nervous about how to proceed. |
'Our children need to know the full history, the honest history' |
The Pasco County school district has found itself in a conundrum. Not long ago, officials decided to pursue exemplary status from the Florida Department of Education for the teaching of African American history. They convened a task force of respected educators to craft a path toward that goal, which is established in state law. They did so well before lawmakers unanimously adopted legislation mandating that districts certify they are teaching the topic, which DeSantis and others have made a point of noting is required, not banned. But then came the department's rejection of all proposed textbooks for African American history courses. And the state's pause of its summer institute while awaiting new standards, which are set for adoption in mid-July — just days before they're to take effect. Lacking clear direction from the state, Pasco officials decided not to purchase any textbooks for its fledgling African American history program, instead relying on a local team to build a curriculum using a variety of resources. That choice drew critics to the school board's public hearing on textbook adoption this week. Their biggest concern: Teachers were being sent to the front lines of Florida's culture wars unprepared. "There are a lot of teachers out there uncomfortable right now. They don't know what to teach," local task force member Terry Nelson (shown above), a retired educator and national consultant on multiculturalism, told the board. "I ask that you equip our teachers with the tools that they need." And that is not a hodgepodge of outside resources for a still-incomplete locally designed course, others said. "Yes, we have developed courses before. However, never for such a highly contested course," said teacher Jessica Wright, another local task force member. She raised the concern that "teachers will self-censor for fear of HB 7" — that's the 2022 law restricting lessons about race that might cause student discomfort — or "they will incidentally violate HB 7" and have to deal with the potential firestorm that follows. Some speakers called on the district to adopt materials from publisher TCI that teachers have supported. If the state hasn't OK'd the items, they said, then wait. "I am perplexed why we are putting a target on the backs of teachers," said Lisa Maretti, who called herself a local resident with no specific ties to the subject. "We have serious cultural issues right now." Lea Mitchell, district Leading and Learning director, told the board that a team of local teachers took such issues into consideration as it made its recommendations. It's not uncommon, she added, for districts to develop curriculum for interest-driven courses such as Holocaust history. Board members appeared to listen carefully to all the information presented. But they didn't signal which way they're leaning, leaving a vote to a future meeting even closer to the first day of classes. |