Florida Legislature passes “Stop WOKE Act,” second controversial education bill this week

The Florida legislature has passed what supporters have called the “Stop WOKE Act,” a bill that seeks to limit how jobs and classrooms across the state handle discussions around it. critical theory of race. The 24-15 vote in the state Senate on Thursday comes after the passage of another controversial education bill, known to critics as the “Don’t say gay” bill..

Legislation at the center of Thursday’s vote, also known as the “Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees Act,” is now on the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been a vocal advocate since the filing. of the bill.

“In Florida we are taking a stand against state-sanctioned racism which is a critical racial theory,” DeSantis said when he supported the bill in December. “We will not allow Florida tax money to be spent on teaching children to hate our country or to hate each other. We also have a responsibility to ensure that parents have the means to assert their rights when it comes to enforcing state standards.Finally, we need to protect Florida workers from the hostile work environment that is created when large corporations force their employees to endure “training” and CRT-inspired indoctrination. “

At the end of last year, CBSN Originals informed that there was no proof the critical theory of race was being is taught in K-12 schoolsbut some initiatives and programs are inspired by their basic assumptions.

The text of the bill, while not mentioning critical race theory by name, is specifically aimed at employers who include training on critical race theory or racism, prohibiting any training course or credentials that try to teach “the character or moral state of an individual as privileged or oppressed is necessarily.” determined by their race, color, sex, or national origin. ”The bill also limits how teachers and other educators teach public school students about race, privileges, oppression, and the founding of America.

The news comes just days after the legislature also passed HB1557, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which focuses on limiting classroom discussions about sexuality from kindergarten through third grade. degree.

Educators and critics of the “Stop WOKE Act” have argued that the legislation will lead to unnecessary censorship in Florida schools.

“This bill is not for blacks, this bill was not for any other race. It was aimed at making whites not feel bad about what happened years ago,” said Sen. Shevrin Jones. dit in 2021. “At no time did anyone say that whites should be held accountable for what happened, but what I would ask my white counterparts is whether you are a facilitator of what happened or will you say we need to talk about history? “

In:
• ron desantis
• florida