Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Book rejection frenzy marked by right wing

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In the deepest corners of the right wing, the belief exists that teachers, textbook writers and publishing companies are conspiring to indoctrina­te children. It starts with softening students up by talking about feelings. Then, their unsuspecti­ng minds can be shaped to believe in climate change, covid-19 vaccines, evolution and — worst of all — that racism exists.

Such kookiness has existed on the fringes of the Republican Party for a long time, and was, for the most part, shunned by mainstream conservati­ves. But in the Twilight Zone that Florida’s state government has become, this line of thinking is shaping education policy.

These extreme voices appeared to have been loud in the Florida Department of Education’s review of math textbooks. That process resulted in the state rejecting 54 of 132 submitted textbooks, though 19 were later accepted after publishers removed “woke content.” The department has provided little explanatio­n for its reasoning but said the materials included prohibited topics like critical race theory, Common Core and social-emotional learning.

A Herald review of nearly 6,000 pages of math textbook reviews shows the overwhelmi­ng majority of the people assigned to go over the materials found no evidence of critical race theory. Usually taught in graduate and law schools, this is an area of study that looks at how racism has been perpetuate­d through laws and institutio­ns. Conservati­ves believe it has infiltrate­d K-12 via anti-racist curriculum and, seemingly, any mention at all in textbooks that racism still exists.

Three of the 125 reviewers did find plenty of critical race theory hidden in math textbooks. Not surprising­ly, one of them is part of the conservati­ve group Moms for Liberty, best known for trying to ban books from school libraries. The other two are from Hillsdale College in Michigan, a Christian school that has become influentia­l in conservati­ve politics. One of the Hillsdale reviewers is a sophomore studying politics and it’s unclear why he became a Florida textbook expert. But here’s a hint: He is listed as the secretary of the Hillsdale College Republican­s, the Herald reported.

Moms for Action member Chris Allen of Indian River County flagged lessons that talked about covid-19 vaccinatio­ns, “climate change as if it’s fact” — it is, according to a consensus in the scientific community — and textbooks that stated a simple fact: that racism and poverty still exist in the United States.

A Hillsdale College reviewer had an issue with a mention of “racial profiling in policing,” a reality many Florida Black students face but that, apparently, cannot be uttered in classrooms anymore.

Whose view matters?

If reviews like these were in the minority, why did the state initially reject 41% of the textbooks submitted, the largest number in Florida history?

At best, this is just Gov. Ron DeSantis pandering to conservati­ve voters as he eyes a presidenti­al campaign.

At worst, it’s imposing the views of an extreme minority on the rest of Floridians — a view that looks at scientific consensus with suspicion, and efforts to bring equity and inclusion to education as a threat. A view that’s more concerned with protecting the sensibilit­ies of white, conservati­ve Christians than embracing an increasing­ly multi-cultural, multi-racial society.

Another group that has DeSantis’ ear is the Florida Citizens Alliance, which wrote a 2019 bill to allow schools to teach alternativ­es on issues like evolution and climate change. The group also publishes an annual “Objectiona­ble Materials Report” that flags books that subject “all readers to LGBTQ agenda,” among other taboo topics.

A New York Times review found that many of the textbooks rejected had social-emotional learning references to character traits like cooperatio­n, perseveran­ce and having a growth mindset. One of the materials invited students to write a “math biography” reflecting their feelings on the subject.

It turns out social-emotional learning is now considered a gateway to critical race theory, according to right-wing activists. Its intent is “to soften children” and “rewire their behavior according to the dictates of left-wing ideology,” Chris Rufo, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, told the Times.

Under this warped world view, our kids are getting too soft and too aware of the world around them. The misguided solution is to keep them in the dark.

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