Florida: New Law Bans Critical Race Theory in Classrooms and the Workplace

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning critical race theory (CRT), the philosophy that race determines one’s standing as either an oppressor or a victim, at both schools and such events as workplace training sessions, calling the concept an instrument of division. DeSantis said that Florida schools already provide a comprehensive view of America’s past, including mandatory instruction on slavery, the civil-rights movement and the Holocaust. He stated, “We will not use your tax dollars to teach our kids to hate this country or hate each other.” He also defended merit and said that excellence, hard work, fairness, neutrality, objectivity, color-blindness are somehow racist or sexist.

The newly signed legislation was swiftly challenged in a federal lawsuit that argues the law violates First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights and seeks an injunction to stop it from going into effect. The plaintiffs contend that the new law will prevent Florida’s K-12 schoolteachers, college and university professors, and employers from espousing viewpoints about race in America, such as institutional racism and implicit bias. But DeSantis is confident that the new law is legal.

 

 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law new guidelines Friday involving race-based discussions in businesses and schools as part of his campaign against critical race theory, which he called “pernicious” ideology.

Passed by lawmakers earlier this year, the legislation bars instruction that says members of one race are inherently racist, and that they should feel guilt for past actions committed by others of the same race or that a person’s status as privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by their race. It also bars the notion that meritocracy is racist, or that discrimination is acceptable to achieve diversity.

“We believe in education, not indoctrination,” DeSantis said during Friday’s bill signing in South Florida.

DeSantis said Florida students will not have oppressive ideologies imposed on them, as the bill provides “substantive protections” for students in grades K to 12. He said “pernicious ideologies” will not be allowed.

“We will not use your tax dollars to teach our kids to hate this country or hate each other,” DeSantis said.

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TEXT OF THE NEW LAW:

 

760.10 Unlawful employment practices.—
   44         (8)(a)Subjecting any individual, as a condition of
   45  employment, membership, certification, licensing, credentialing,
   46  or passing an examination, to training, instruction, or any
   47  other required activity that espouses, promotes, advances,
   48  inculcates, or compels such individual to believe any of the
   49  following concepts constitutes discrimination based on race,
   50  color, sex, or national origin under this section:
   51         
   71         7.An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or
   72  any other form of psychological distress on account of his or
   73  her race, color, sex, or national origin.

The other is in the section on state curricular standards:

(3)The Legislature acknowledges the fundamental truth that
  280  all individuals are equal before the law and have inalienable
  281  rights. Accordingly, instruction on the topics enumerated in
  282  this section and supporting materials must be consistent with
  283  the following principles of individual freedom:
  284         (a)No individual is inherently racist, sexist, or
  285  oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, solely by
  286  virtue of his or her race or sex.
  287         (b)No race is inherently superior to another race.
  288         (c)No individual should be discriminated against or
  289  receive adverse treatment solely or partly on the basis of race,
  290  color, national origin, religion, disability, or sex.
  291         (d)Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are not
  292  racist but fundamental to the right to pursue happiness and be
  293  rewarded for industry.
  294         (e)An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex,
  295  does not bear responsibility for actions committed in the past
  296  by other members of the same race or sex.
  297         (f)An individual should not be made to feel discomfort,
  298  guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on
  299  account of his or her race.
  300  
  301  Instructional personnel may facilitate discussions and use
  302  curricula to address, in an age-appropriate manner, the topics
  303  of sexism, slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation, and
  304  racial discrimination, including topics relating to the
  305  enactment and enforcement of laws resulting in sexism, racial
  306  oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination.
  307  However, classroom instruction and curriculum may not be used to
  308  indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view
  309  inconsistent with the principles of this subsection or state
  310  academic standards.

 

Additional source:   https://nypost.com/2022/04/22/new-florida-law-bans-critical-race-theory-in-schools-workplaces/