Florida School District Adjusts Shakespeare Curriculum to Comply with New Law
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — In response to a new Florida law that restricts classroom materials deemed sexual, a school district in Hillsborough County has redesigned its curriculum guides, resulting in students reading only excerpts from William Shakespeare’s plays rather than the full texts.
The changes to the Hillsborough County Public Schools’ curriculum guides were made to align with the state’s legislation, which prohibits classroom materials that “contain pornography or obscene depictions of sexual conduct.” The revised guides also consider updated state standards and aim to encourage students to read a diverse range of books for new state exams, according to the school district’s statement released on Tuesday.
Notably, several of Shakespeare’s plays contain suggestive puns, innuendo, and implied premarital sex in “Romeo and Juliet.” However, the district clarified that Shakespeare’s books will still be available for checkout at media centers in schools. The decision to focus on excerpts rather than the full texts ensures compliance with the new legislation.
“We have not excluded Shakespeare from our high school curriculum. Students will still have the physical books to read excerpts in class,” the statement clarified. “Curriculum guides are continually reviewed and refined throughout the year to align with state standards and current law.”
The move in Tampa comes as a result of laws passed by Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature in recent years. The first law, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, prohibited classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in lower grades. The second law extended this prohibition to include other grade levels and also introduced restrictions on pronoun usage and book challenges in schools.
These laws generated confusion and controversy surrounding their application in schools. Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz added further confusion by recommending “Romeo and Juliet” for student reading in August. The situation highlights the ongoing debate over what content is permissible in classrooms under the new laws.
Similarly, in Lake County, the school district faced backlash and a legal challenge after attempting to restrict access to a popular children’s book, “And Tango Makes Three,” which tells the story of two male penguins raising a chick. However, a federal judge has been asked to dismiss the lawsuit following the lifting of age restrictions on the book by the Florida Department of Education.
The “Don’t Say Gay” law has also garnered attention due to its connection with Disney. GOP Governor Ron DeSantis, who has made culture wars a central focus of his campaign for the 2024 presidential nomination, clashed with Disney after the company opposed the legislation. Disney’s opposition led to DeSantis and Republican lawmakers taking control of the district governing the area where Walt Disney World is located.
In addition to the Shakespeare curriculum adjustments, the College Board has refused to alter its Advanced Placement psychology course to comply with Florida’s new laws, which include content on gender and sexual orientation. The organization expressed hope that Florida teachers would still be able to teach the full course.
With students returning to school this week in many districts, it remains uncertain whether further modifications will be necessary to ensure compliance with Florida’s rules.
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP.
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