Florida says AP class teaches critical race theory. Here's what's really in the course

[Jilly_in_VA]

Florida's Department of Education has rejected an Advanced Placement course covering African American Studies — saying the class indoctrinates students to "a political agenda."

"As submitted, the course is a vehicle for a political agenda and leaves large, ambiguous gaps that can be filled with additional ideological material, which we will not allow," said Bryan Griffin, Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary.

But scholars who were involved in creating the curriculum say that's far from the truth.

"There's nothing particularly ideological about the course except that we value the experiences of African people in the United States," Christopher Tinson, the chair of the African American Studies department at Saint Louis University, told NPR.

The course is the latest addition to the AP program, which helps high school students earn college credit. The class is currently undergoing a pilot phase. Sixty schools were participating in that trial run, including at least one high school in Florida, But state officials have taken issue with the possibility that the course would teach about Black Lives Matter and the reparations movement.

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/22/1150259944/florida-rejects-ap-class-african-american-studies

Fascists are afraid of everything

[Phoenix61]

1. The seem to be especially afraid of the truth. nt

[underpants]

2. More from the article

Tinson said the course will explore the origins of the African diaspora to Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights movement, and then some. It will also examine historical trailblazers like Valerie Thomas, a scientist who invented the illusion transmitter.

He is particularly excited for students to have a fuller grasp of the Haitian revolution, which Tinson argues tends to be underrepresented in history classes compared to the American and French revolutions despite being the most successful slave revolt in world history.

Among the concerns that Florida officials have raised is whether the course will teach critical race theory, the legal framework that argues racism is not just the product of individual bias, but is embedded in legal systems and policies.

But Tinson denied accusations that the theory will be taught in the course. While the class will explore the issue of inequality, the framework itself is too advanced for high school students even in a college-level course, according to Tinson.

[nuxvomica]

6. I had to look up "illusion transmitter"

And it's a very cool invention.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusion_transmitter

[lees1975]

3. I would like to see some real data that proves racism is not embedded in legal systems and policies.

And that CRT is actually taught in the curriculum of public schools. Not that it would be a bad thing if it were.

[Casady1]

4. DeSantis is in the mold

of those segregationists of Northern Florida.

[SoCal Roomba]

5. It's pretty simple really.

The more that this generation of students learn about the past, the more likely they are to realize that DeSantis and the GOP are cut from the same cloth.

It’s about losing another generation of voters to the ugly truth.

The only way for the GOP to gain voters is to Gaslight, Obstruct, and Project.

[cyclonefence]

7. I wonder what would happen

(that's silly--we all know what would happen) if a student group formed an African-American Study Club for after school hours--you know, like the chess club (snort--in FL?). It would be shut down pretty fast, I imagine, for some made-up reason. Then the club finds a church willing to let them use the church auditorium or something--would Santos dare try to interfere with something done in church?

It's important to try to start it in the school, after hours, so that moving to the church would be a direct challenge to RW efforts at thought control. Can they dictate what can be taught in Sunday School?

[gratuitous]

8. Details are anathema to the critics

Just look at Bryan Griffin's criticism: "The course . . . leaves large, ambiguous gaps." What gaps? Why are those gaps "ambiguous"? Are the gaps the fault of the course applicant, or the fault of the State of Florida which has decreed that certain topics must not be taught?

In any event, when the actual contents of the course are up for discussion, the critics' objections start looking petty and peevish, and driven by an ideological bent that most people won't own. Not everyone is in a position to push back against this nonsense (it can be hard to raise a family when you're black-balled from your chosen profession), but those who are able to resist should do so, and LOUDLY. Show these people for what they are: Frightened little bigot-bullies.