DeSantis Pushes Ban On Diversity Programs In State Colleges

9
FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gestures during a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Miami. DeSantis on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, announced plans to block state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced plans to block state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory.

Join our WhatsApp group

Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


The Republican governor debuted the proposal as part of a larger, higher education legislative package that is expected to be taken up by the GOP-controlled statehouse when its regular session begins in March.

DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has heavily criticized critical race theory, which examines systemic racism — as well as diversity, equity and inclusion programs, commonly known as DEI.

Critical race theory is a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what scholars viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation’s institutions, which function to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

“I think people want to see true academics and they want to get rid of some of the political window dressing that seems to accompany all this,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Bradenton, adding that DEI and CRT programs would get “No funding, and that will wither on the vine.”

In a statement, the governor’s office said the proposal “raises the standards of learning and civil discourse of public higher education in Florida” by “prohibiting higher education institutions from using any funding, regardless of source, to support DEI, CRT, and other discriminatory initiatives.”

The proposal was expected after the DeSantis administration requested in late December that state colleges submit spending data and other information on programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory.

The governor is also pushing for education administrators to “realign” courses to provide historically accurate information and to not include identity politics. DeSantis’ proposals have not yet been introduced as formal legislation but the GOP-controlled statehouse is often eager to carry out his initiatives.

DeSantis and other conservatives have long argued that critical race theory, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs are racially divisive and discriminatory — and are often cited in criticism of what they often call “woke” ideology in education.

Last year the governor signed legislation dubbed the Stop WOKE Act that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis, in schools and businesses. The law bars instruction that says members of one race are inherently racist or should feel guilt for past actions committed by others of the same race, among other things.

This month the DeSantis administration blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate.

So far, at least 25 states have considered legislation or other steps to limit how race and racism can be taught, according to an analysis from Education Week. Eight states, all Republican-led, have banned or limited the teaching of critical race theory or similar concepts through laws or administrative actions. The bans largely address what can be taught inside the classroom.


Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


Connect with VINnews

Join our WhatsApp group


9 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Zelig
Zelig
1 year ago

CRT is an attempt by its proponents to do exactly what they are accusing white people of doing.

They say white people don’t treat black people on merit, but rather favor whites.
They’re trying to formulate a country where no one is treated on merits and favor should be given to blacks over whites regardless of merit.

So instead of focusing on improving the merits of blacks, they want blacks with no merits to hold positions of responsibility and authority even if they are subpar or untrustworthy, rather than necessarily qualified people by given those positions if such seekers are white.

They have already been pushing this for years, and CRT is simply a tool to institutionalize it for the next generation to continue such a trend, rather than focus on actually improving the merits of more blacks.

Note: many blacks have suitable merit and can sue any institution that discriminates against them based on race (which other suitably meritorious but discriminated cannot, such as those rejected for being fat or “ugly” etc), and no more is needed but to further ensure that blacks, like any others, are afforded the opportunity and support as they grow to sufficiently develop their meritoriousness.

Anything else, such as CRT, is simply fostering a revenge mindset to facilitate a justification for promoting less meritorious candidates who are black. In short… It is the corruption and degradation of society by institutionalizing a new kind of prejudice.

Also note, to those who promote this new-age acceptance of prejudicing (against whites), it leaves them similarly energized in acceptance of further acceptance and promotion of prejudicing, such as that against Jews.

Either way, CRT fosters a victim mentality among blacks that more often than not leads to a defeatist attitude that stifles the advancement of their community members rather than advantaging them. So all in all it does, even for them, much more harm than any sought after good.

Hashem Yishmor!

A REAL YID
A REAL YID
1 year ago

All over Florida books by Elie Weisel, Anne Frank, Primo Levi, etc are being BANNED. If you only get news from der sturmer and Fox and Breitbart you won’t know this.

A REAL YID
A REAL YID
1 year ago

Banning Jewish books on the Churban is like a modern book-burning. Great idea by DeSanta.