Yesterday’s chirp mentioned that the Taliban were reshaping the education curriculum in Afghanistan to reflect their extreme fundamentalist ideals. Well that is happening over there. It can never happen like that here. It already is.

Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida has just banned a high school level African-American Studies curriculum with the explanation that the course is,

 “inexplicably contrary to Florida law” and lacking “educational value.”

The course is designed to,

“…explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans” through the study of “literature, the arts and humanities, political science, geography, and science.”

According to Deputy Press Secrtetary Jeremy Redfern, the course is a vehicle for a political agenda that,

“leaves large, ambiguous gaps that can be filled with additional ideological material, which we will not allow,” adding that Florida classrooms “will be a place for education, not indoctrination.”

On the other hand, Rolling Stone magazine states that the rejection was in line with DeSantis’ plan to remodel Florida’s curriculum “in the image of the far right”.

Back in 2022, Florida, under DeSantis passed the ‘Stop WOKE’ Act. (Stop Wrongs to our Kids and Employees). The following are quotes made by DeSantis as to the motivation for passing this legislation.

“In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory. We won’t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other.”

With regard to the kids, they can not be compelled to believe,

“…he or she must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress for actions, in which he or she played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”

So, just like that, 400 years of slavery and discrimination, wiped off the education map. But, Florida’s legislation is not restricted only to African-American studies. Legislation is also in place restricting the discussion of LGBTQ issues. Also, this movement is not restricted to Florida but has and is sprouting in many GOP majority states. Education curriculums are being reshaped to reflect Republican fundamentalist type ideals.

Canadian education systems haver been slow off the mark to include the Residential School legacy into their curriculums. Hopefully, the uptake will increasae in the near future.