A Florida college dumped hundreds of books recently, many of which were related to race, women’s rights, and LGBTQ issues. While the school has claimed that this was part of a routine process to get rid of old books, many are concerned that this goes hand-in-hand with recent efforts to ban books and remove DEI programs in the state.
Florida’s Educational Approach
Florida has passed many new educational policies, especially concerning which books are available in public schools and universities. These decisions have prompted discussion about academic freedom, censorship, and the future of the state’s education system.
Recent Legislative Actions
Florida’s newest trend has been to have state officials review and remove certain books from libraries in publicly funded schools. These efforts are designed to focus educational content away from topics deemed inappropriate by the state.
Public School Compliance
Many public schools have had to remove numerous books on topics like race, gender, and sexual orientation. Critics are concerned that this limit’s student’s awareness of and ability to discuss important social issues.
Books at New College of Florida
New College of Florida is the latest educational space to remove books discussing sensitive topics following the state’s push for removing nontraditional views.
Disturbing Images
Images showing hundreds of these books in the trash hit social media. Many of the titles seemed related to women’s rights as well as racial and LGBTQ issues, inciting anger.
College’s Official Statement
New College of Florida has defended its actions in a statement: “Chapter 273 of Florida statutes precludes New College from selling, donating, or transferring these materials, which were purchased with state funds.” In other words, the books have to be discarded.
Closure of Diversity Programs
New College of Florida has also closed several diversity programs, including the gender studies programs. Many of these programs provided support for marginalized students, so their closure has been concerning.
Removing Gender-Related Books
Some of the books removed from the college’s collection were actually from the discontinued Gender Studies. They were discarded as a part of the repurposing efforts for rooms previously used for this program.
Students Protest the Removal
Students at the college are protesting these recent changes. They are angry over both the removal and how it was done: in the middle of the night and without opportunities for students to keep them.
National Reactions
These kinds of actions at New College of Florida, as well as other public schools around the state, have drawn attention. Many believe this approach is restrictive and detrimental to the quality of education.
Taking Control Over Education
Florida Governor Ron Desantis has made very public efforts to make state educational priorities more conservative, controlling how education is run in public spaces.
Statements From Experts
Many education experts believe student bodies could become less informed and open-minded without access to these kinds of books. They believe critical thinking skills are nourished by diverse perspectives.
“A Cultural Purge”
Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, wrote, “These actions are nothing short of a cultural purge, reminiscent of some of history’s darkest times, where regimes sought to control thought by burning books and erasing knowledge.”
A Culture War in Florida
This recent controversy over books is part of a larger cultural war against certain topics, like LGBTQ+ people, race, and women, existing in education spaces.
Limiting Teaching
In addition to books, Florida has limited whether public schools can teach subjects like critical race theory and gender identity, in its schools. By leveraging public funds, the state has the power to control what is taught to students.
Comparison With Other States
Florida is not the only state with book bans. South Carolina, Utah, and Texas have also been in the news for limiting topics and books that can be discussed in public schools.
Broader Implications For Higher Education
New College of Florida is not alone in its recent efforts; many other higher education programs have been affected by waves of book bans and DEI program closures. Academic freedom is facing a real threat.
Calls For Reinstatement
Students and advocacy groups have pushed for reinstating these books and programs. Many believe that a thorough education includes challenging and diverse themes.
What Can Donors Do?
Donors and funding sources at the New College of Florida may still have some influence. If they reconsider their support over concerns about recent decisions, there is a higher chance of change.
The Future of the New College of Florida
This event is just one example of the censorship trend in Florida. New College of Florida is in a difficult place as long as the state forces public education programs to limit their programs and available books.
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