Florida bill passes to prevent ‘identity politics’ and history-distorting teacher training

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday prohibiting teacher preparation programs from theories on “systemic racism,” “identity politics,” and other topics.

The bill prohibits teacher preparation programs from “distorting significant historical events,” “including a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics” or “violates the Florida Educational Equity Act,” the bill analysis said.

Additionally, it prohibits programs “based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.”

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, sponsored the Senate version of the bill where it passed 28-12. The bill will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for approval.

The House bill, HB 1291, was sponsored by Reps. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater. It passed in the House previously by a vote of 81-31.

“Senate Bill 1372 aims to make sure future teachers who are taking teacher prep courses in colleges and universities are not mandated to take classes or curriculum that push theories of social, political and economic inequity,” Ingoglia said.

Ingoglia said bill does not forbid colleges and universities from teaching educators “how to teach to diverse populations.”

“In fact, that is very important,” Ingoglia said.

“Understanding kids come from different backgrounds is very different from teaching theories on why a set of children are not succeeding while others are,” he said.

Ingoglia said it is “crucial” to provide future teachers with “the chance to think critically and learn effective instructional strategies and techniques that will prove improve the education of all children and not perpetuate the idea that any one child is less capable than their peers.”

The preparation programs exist to “allow pathways for individuals to become certified teachers in the state of Florida,” according to the bill’s analysis.

Ingoglia read examples from his binder of required reading courses, supplemental reading courses or requirements of the course during the questions segment.

Some examples Ingoglia listed include: “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” “The First Day of School: A CRT story,” “Critical Race Theory in Education, “All God’s Children Got a Song,” “White Girl Teaching,” “Anti-racist Education from Theory to Practice,” “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” among others.

Ingoglia said that is just “one course in one school.”

Passidomo postponed the bill for lawmakers to review Ingoglia’s binder of examples.

Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, opposed the bill during debate.

“I disagree with the premise that learning about white privilege, learning about systemic racism, learning about diversity is problematic. I am the first one to stand here and admit that I have white privilege,” Polsky said.

“If I were to become a teacher, I would need to learn the difference in how other people were brought up and the circumstances that they were brought into, so I could be a better teacher. I just think we are completely off the mark here,” she said.

In closing, Ingoglia said this bill is about “how teachers are taught to teach, not the content, what they’re teaching, and that is important.”