Florida History Slavery Curriculum
Florida History Slavery Curriculum – Florida’s new history curriculum for African American studies has been criticized for its claims about slavery. The curriculum, which was approved by the Florida Board of Education in July 2023, includes the following statement:
“Instruction includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
This statement has been criticized by historians and educators, who argue that it is misleading and minimizes the horrors of slavery. They point out that slavery was a system of exploitation and violence, and that enslaved people were denied basic human rights. They also argue that the statement implies that slavery had some positive benefits for enslaved people, which is simply not true.
The Florida Department of Education has defended the statement, saying that it is simply a factual statement about the skills that some enslaved people developed. However, the critics of the statement argue that it is ahistorical and that it does not reflect the true nature of slavery.
The controversy over the Florida history curriculum is part of a larger debate about how to teach about slavery in schools. Some people believe that schools should focus on the horrors of slavery, while others believe that it is important to also teach about the ways in which enslaved people resisted and survived. The Florida curriculum seems to fall somewhere in the middle, but it has been criticized for not being clear enough about the true nature of slavery.
Learn about Florida History Curriculum?
Here are some additional details about the Florida history curriculum:
- The curriculum was developed in response to a new law, the Stop WOKE Act, which was passed by the Florida legislature in 2022. The law prohibits schools from teaching certain topics, including critical race theory.
- The curriculum includes a section on African American history from the pre-colonial period to the present day.
- The curriculum also includes a section on the history of slavery in Florida.
- The curriculum has been criticized by historians, educators, and civil rights groups.
The controversy over the Florida history curriculum is likely to continue. It is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is important to have a conversation about how to teach about slavery in schools so that we can ensure that future generations understand the true history of this country.
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