Students Protest Ban on Gender and Sexual Orientation Instruction in Florida Schools
Tampa, Florida – Students from Hillsborough High School in Tampa staged a walkout on April 21, 2023, to protest a recent decision by Florida education officials. The officials voted to ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all public school grades. The ban has sparked outrage and concerns about LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.
The ban comes as part of a broader push by conservative lawmakers in Florida to make education more conservative. This move has been met with opposition from students and advocates who believe in the importance of comprehensive sexuality education and inclusive curriculums.
In response to the ban, students from Hillsborough High School organized a walkout to show their support for LGBTQ+ rights and demand a more inclusive education system. The walkout received widespread attention and support from various student organizations and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Meanwhile, on September 8, the public university system in Florida approved a new entrance exam that emphasizes classical Western thought. The exam, known as the Classic Learning Test (CLT), has been predominantly used by private and religious colleges. This move by the state is seen as another attempt to make education more conservative.
The CLT will be accepted alongside the more traditional SAT and ACT exams for university admissions in Florida. The test is already authorized for use in the state’s public elementary and secondary schools to assess learning.
Proponents of the CLT argue that it places a strong emphasis on classical education, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. They believe that a classical liberal arts curriculum offers a more well-rounded and meaningful education.
However, critics, including university faculty, have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the test. They argue that there is not enough data showing the value of the CLT compared to other standardized exams. Amanda Phalin, who represents university faculty, was the sole member of the Board of Governors to oppose adopting the CLT.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has previously clashed with the College Board, which administers the SAT, has supported attempts to limit the teaching of African American history, systemic racism, and LGBTQ+ issues in public schools.
Jeremy Tate, the developer of the CLT, has stated that his test aims to reflect the intellectual rigor and focus on Western academic thought found in Jesuit and similar educational traditions. He insists that the test is not political.
The adoption of the CLT by many conservatives is seen as part of a broader reaction against what they perceive as a de-emphasis on Western canon in favor of more inclusive studies. Tate’s ultimate goal is to restore the primacy of Western thought in education and develop tests that reward students’ familiarity with Western philosophers and thinkers, including Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass and female writer Flannery O’Connor.
The ban on gender and sexual orientation instruction and the adoption of the CLT highlight the ongoing debates about the direction of education in the state of Florida. As students continue to voice their concerns and advocacy groups fight for inclusive education, the future of education in the state remains uncertain.
Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; editing by Grant McCool