DeSantis orders state look into teachers who ‘politicize’ book challenging process
ORLANDO, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he is directing the Florida Department of Education to look into and take “appropriate action” on “bad actors” who are “politicizing” the book challenging process in Florida.
He floated instituting fines on “frivolous” challenges to classics like To Kill A Mockingbird, or limiting challenges based on if somebody has children in the school or not.
“If you take a position as a teacher that no books are appropriate because ‘the state is telling you this…’ first of all, that’s a lie,” DeSantis said. “Second of all, you’re depriving students of an ability to achieve what we’re trying to do – which is give them a good education.”
The governor slammed those in education seeking to create a “narrative” surrounding book challenges, saying officials who do so are violating their “professional obligations.”
He specifically pointed out challenges to “classic works” being pushed by educators to drum up controversy, and said doing so deprives students of a good education, noting state law doesn’t restrict including such works in curricula.
The governor pointed to worries that “dictionaries” were being banned, a narrative he said sparks from bad actors, and is then covered by the media, creating false concern.
He also said he is looking to work with the Florida Legislature to “streamline” the book challenging rules and process.
“Don’t let these folks pull a fast one on you,” he said. “Don’t let them indulge in phony narratives.”
The governor stressed that book challenges in Florida are not “bans,” rather determining that some books are sexual, explicit, pornographic or age inappropriate for elementary or middle school libraries, and are still available in the state.
At the beginning of the event, DeSantis played a video of books pornographic in nature that were permitted in school.
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. debunked the notion that classic works are being banned in the state, and rather explained that age inappropriate materials are the ones being restricted.
“We will continue to set the record straight as long as it takes,” Diaz said. “This process is designed to prevent activists from inserting inappropriate materials into our children’s classroom.”
Orange County School Board Member Alicia Farrant additionally called on parents to protect their children from sexually explicit materials.
Moms for Liberty Cofounder Tina Descovich scorched the media for focusing on so-called “book bans” as opposed to what she described as a low literacy rate crisis among students.
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