Florida, African Studies DeSantis: Governor Pritzker says not to change AP course to appease FL gov, ‘racist and homophobic laws’

[ad_1]

CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is set to battle with the National College Board over what he calls Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “political gait.”

The Chicago Democrat warns the nonprofit that oversees the Advanced Placement program that Illinois will reject a revised African American studies course if it does not include “a factual accounting of history, including the role played by black queer Americans”.

Pritzker sent a letter to the board about his decision to revise the advanced placement course in African American studies after Florida’s governor — and likely GOP presidential candidate — blocked Florida high schools from offering the course because it included segments on “queer theory” and “prison abolition”, among other topics.

It’s unclear how the course will be changed or if the revisions stem from Florida’s rejection, but the College Board said the new framework will be released Feb. 1.

Pritzker opposed any changes “to accommodate Florida’s racist and homophobic laws.”

“In Illinois, we reject any changes to the program aimed at appeasing extremists like the governor of Florida and his allies,” Pritzker wrote in the letter obtained by the Sun-Times.

SEE MORE: Florida says rejected AP African American studies course ‘has no educational value’

Pritzker, seen as a potential Democratic White House hopeful if President Biden does not seek re-election, objected to the Florida Republican’s limiting the teaching of black history and suggested the board d administration that Illinois high schools would reject any “watered down” AP class that ignores the nation. “true, if sometimes unpleasant, story.”

Pritzker wrote that Illinois will carefully review all revisions to ensure they include “all necessary history, beginning with the founding of this nation built on slavery, the civil war where this nation held account of this history and the decades of reconstruction and efforts of black Americans to continue their struggle for equality and equity to this day.”

The governor’s office told the Sun-Times it would reject the program if it did not include the “factual” framework detailed in Pritzker’s letter.

Florida Department of Education officials said they hope to remove content on topics including critical race theory, black gay studies and intersectionality.

At a press conference in Jacksonville, Fla., on Monday, DeSantis called the program “a political agenda.”

“That’s the wrong side of the line for Florida standards,” DeSantis said. “We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we don’t think they should be given a curriculum when you try to use black history to shoehorn theory. queer, you are clearly trying to use it for political purposes.”

The war over the curriculum began on January 12 when the Florida Department of Education sent the College Board a letter saying the course was “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and grossly lacking in educational value.”

“Going forward, if the College Board is willing to return to the table with lawful and historically accurate content, the FDOE will always be willing to reopen the discussion,” the letter read.

On Wednesday, department spokesman Alex Lanfranconi said he was encouraged to see the board “expressing a willingness to modify” the course.

RELATED: DeSantis Migrant Relocation Program Plans to Fly ‘Up to 50’ to Illinois, Documents Say

“AP courses are nationally standardized, and due to Florida’s strong stance against identity politics and indoctrination, students nationwide will consequently have access to a historically accurate and unbiased course,” Lanfranconi said in an emailed statement.

As Governor DeSantis said, African American history is American history, and we will not allow any organization to use a college course as a gateway for indoctrination and a political agenda. We look forward to reviewing the changes made by the College Board and expect the removal of content on critical race theory, black gay studies, intersectionality, and other topics that violate our laws. “

Florida passed a law in 2021 banning the teaching of critical race theory. And last year, DeSantis signed the ‘Stop WOKE’ law, which places restrictions on how schools and businesses can talk about race.

Pritzker has become a frequent critic of DeSantis as buzz surrounding the 2024 presidential election intensifies. At a Florida Democratic Party conference last year, Pritzker compared DeSantis to former President Donald Trump, saying he was “really just Donald Trump with a mask.”

“He’s trying to portray his covert racism, homophobia and misogyny as a more reasonable form of Trump republicanism,” Pritzker said in his speech that day.

Last year, Pritzker also condemned DeSantis’ Parental Rights in Education bill, which many call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prohibits classroom discussions or teaching about sexual orientation and identity from kindergarten to grade three or higher. in a “way that is not age or developmentally appropriate”.

“We can’t sit idly by as Republican governors launch relentless attacks on the LGBTQ+ community,” Pritzker said in a tweet after the bill took effect. “Everyone deserves a state where you can be your authentic self. As long as I serve as Governor, the State of Illinois will see you, support you, and welcome you with open arms.”

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2023.)

[ad_2]