War against education

Sophia Canabal | Lifestyles Editor

Ayearafter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis passed the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, prohibiting teachers from discussing topics like race and gender in the classroom, he is waging war against education again, but this time against College Board, declaring that African American history “lacks educational value.”

After a decade of development, the College Board made AP African American Studies available nationwide, only for the course to be rejected by DeSantis on Jan. 12. The course would have covered both cultural and historical aspects of African American communities, but according to DeSantis, something about it screams “indoctrination.” The board of education may have the power to ban the AP course, but they do not have the right to deem black history as unworthy for American classrooms.

Any topic that even approaches diversity, culture and inclusivity has already been labeled by DeSantis as a form of “liberal indoctrination.” If every class were to follow his definition of indoctrination, science classes would not teach the scientific method.

Protecting the minds of American children should not mean hindering their ability to question the world around them. As a parent himself, DeSantis should want that for his child as much as any other parent would.

During a press conference on Jan. 26, the governor revealed that he banned the course because it encouraged the abolishment of the prison system and mentioned “queer theory.” After these terms were removed from the course’s official framework, they won’t ease the tension between DeSantis and the College Board.

Politicizing every aspect of the classroom politicizes students’ identities. If African American studies are controversial, are African Americans?

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