Textbook censorship hurts Florida students’ careers

Re: Florida now warns textbook publishers against ‘critical race theory’ in social studies books

The Florida Department of Education recently invited proposals from textbook companies for social studies materials.

DOE posted a 29-page document on its website outlining what must be included in those books and what must be left out, including: “Critical race theory, social justice, culturally responsive teaching, social and emotional learning, and any other unsolicited theories that may lead to student indoctrination.”

Florida has already shown that the people creating these “standards” have no idea what critical race theory really is, especially that it’s an advanced course taught in law school, not high school. Now they are demonstrating that they also have no understanding of social justice and how it is central to social studies education.

How does one teach social studies without discussing the civil rights movement, women’s suffrage or current concerns about gun violence, hunger or climate change? Is the Department of Education suggesting teachers skip over these issues?

Social justice is a core area of social studies education and is widely recognized as an area offering skills to future employers. If the Department of Education had done modest research, it would have discovered that our own University of Central Florida offers a graduate certificate in “Social Justice in Public Service,” with a program focused on “a background in social justice, exploring topics such as human rights, income distribution and the role of markets” — useful skills in many fields.

Colleges and universities around the U.S. offer social justice minors, majors and graduate degrees. Introducing social justice topics in high school prepares students not only for college but for future careers. Clearly, the Florida Department of Education has no idea what it’s asking textbook publishers to do, or the ways in which misinformed standards will hinder students’ knowledge, career preparation, and job skills.

Sally Harrison-Pepper, Ph.D., Fort Myers