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Attacks on public education have led to many restrictions that harm children’s well-being and right to learn... friend, Over recent months, attacks on public education have led to many restrictions that harm childrens’ well-being and right to learn. In Florida, the attacks are rampant. Our award-winning education program Learning for Justice is fighting back against these hateful measures designed to fail students. Our work is important, and we must do what we can to erase the damage done by Governor DeSantis’ administration. This year, Florida passed a slew of bills that harm teachers and students and make it difficult for education to be inclusive and accurate. In 2022, the legislature passed HB 1557, also known as “Don’t Say Gay,” which bans discussions and materials on sexual orientation and gender identity for students from kindergarten through third grade. Earlier this year, the law was expanded to include all students. Other provisions in the bill include the ability for parents to sue the school district if they believe there is a violation, having parents sign off on their child’s nickname and implementing a parental notification policy for students to receive health or support services which parents or legal guardians can deny. This may force students to be “outed” by faculty, creating a potentially unsafe environment for the student. The attacks don’t stop there. The Florida Board of Education adopted new standards last month for how Black history should be taught, requiring that some lessons such as the 1920 Ocoee Massacre should include “acts of violence perpetuated against and by African Americans.” The DeSantis administration also banned the Advanced Placement African American Studies curriculum stating that “it lacks educational value,” further limiting and jeopardizing Black history. Books bans are also on the rise. Materials that teach us about the importance of social justice movements, address racism and uplift LGBTQ+ stories are being pulled from libraries, further limiting students’ access to inclusive education. While the state of Florida continues to fail its students, we are pushing back against these hateful practices. Learning for Justice is committed to supporting honest and inclusive curricula in partnership with teachers and communities to dismantle white supremacy, teaching tough topics while remaining truthful about our country’s history. We provide articles, guides, lessons, films, webinars, frameworks and other important materials that foster inclusivity and diversity and build collective power — all free of charge. Thank you for your unwavering support. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the fight against hate and censorship. Sincerely, Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center |
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