US presidential candidate Republican Ron DeSantis says diversity programs serve as a ‘political filter’.
In the southeastern US state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis announced plans to ban public colleges from having diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory (CRT) programs.
The Republican governor unveiled his proposal Tuesday for a larger, higher education legislative body that is expected to be taken up by the GOP-controlled state House of Representatives when the regular session begins in March.
DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has developed a critical race theory that examines systemic racism, including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs, commonly known as DEI.
Critical race theory is a way of thinking about American history through the lens of racism. Scholars developed it in the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they saw as a lack of racial progress following the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s. Racism is centered on the idea that racism is a system in the country’s institutions that work to maintain white supremacy in society.
“I think people want to see real intellectuals, and they want to get rid of some of the political window dressing that seems to go along with all of this,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Beach Bradenton.
The governor’s office said in a statement that the proposal “will raise the standards of learning and civil discourse in public higher education in Florida,” prohibiting higher education institutions from supporting DEI, CRT and other discriminatory practices, regardless of their funding source. motivation”
DeSantis has promised no funding for such programs. “I think it’s very important because it really serves as an ideological filter, a political filter.
The proposal came after the DeSantis administration asked public colleges in late December to provide cost data and other information on critical race theory and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The governor is pressuring education administrators to provide historically accurate information and “correct” courses without involving identity politics. DeSantis’ proposals have yet to be introduced as formal legislation, but the Republican-controlled state House is eager to implement the initiative.
DeSantis and other conservatives have long argued that critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are racially divisive and discriminatory — and often cite criticism of what they call “activism” in education.
Last year, the governor signed a law called the Stop WOKE Act, which restricts certain racially charged speech and analysis in schools and colleges. The law prohibits instruction that members of a particular race are inherently racist or that they should feel guilty for past actions by others of the same race.
This month, the DeSantis administration suspended a new Advanced Placement course — an undergraduate program for high school students — that focuses on African American studies, saying that teaching it in Florida public schools violates state law. He also accused that his approach is historically wrong.
So far, at least 25 states are considering legislation or other measures to limit how race and racism are taught, according to an Education Week analysis. All eight Republican-led states have banned or restricted critical race theory or similar theories through legislation or administrative action. The restrictions mostly refer to what can be learned in the classroom.
A new higher education proposal builds on our 2022 reforms:
– Core courses based on Western culture
– Elimination of DEI/CRT bureaucracies
– Strengthening institutions focused on civics at UF, FSU and FIU
– Additional accountability for teachers pic.twitter.com/XV6mExlzHJ— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 31, 2023
Proponents of diversity programs and critical race theory argue that they aim to combat institutional racism and teach authentic American history that reflects the racism experienced by African Americans and other ethnic minorities.
Many Democrats have criticized DeSantis’ plans to intervene in public education. “There is no such thing as being anti-ideological on a college campus…. Like pushing your ideology on college campuses,” Florida House member Anna Escmani tweeted Tuesday.
The governor’s move to ban Advanced Placement courses in African American studies also sparked outrage last week.
“Ron DeSantis AP banning African American Studies because it ‘has no educational value’ is unabashed white supremacy,” Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said on social media last week.
“You can’t teach the truth about American history without African American history. time.”