Tallahassee, FL, USA – On November 22, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a controversial law that bans the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. The legislation, which passed with significant support from Republican lawmakers, prohibits the teaching of CRT concepts in K-12 education, with the aim of preventing what supporters call “indoctrination” in classrooms. The bill applies to both public schools and charter schools in the state and mandates that any teachings related to race or history be in line with “Florida’s values” as outlined by state education officials.
Governor Ron DeSantis, a rising star in the Republican Party, has been a vocal critic of CRT, framing it as an ideological threat to the fabric of American society. He argued that CRT encourages division and promotes a narrative that is divisive, rather than unifying. DeSantis has also positioned himself as a defender of parental rights, saying that parents, not educators, should decide what their children are taught regarding race and history. His administration’s stance against CRT has become a focal point of his broader campaign to reshape Florida’s educational landscape.
On the opposing side, opponents of the law, including many educators, civil rights organizations, and Democratic lawmakers, have decried the move as an infringement on academic freedom. Critics argue that the law undermines the ability of teachers to address complex issues of race and history in a comprehensive manner, and they warn that it could stifle important discussions on social justice.
Polling data in Florida indicates strong partisan divides on the issue. A poll by the University of Florida found that 68% of Republicans in the state supported the ban on CRT in schools, while only 33% of Democrats favored the legislation. Independent voters were also divided, with 45% supporting the ban and 40% opposing it. The data shows a clear trend of conservative voters supporting the law as a way to limit what they view as left-wing overreach in education, while liberals and progressives view the ban as a politically motivated attempt to suppress important discussions about race and history.
The law’s passage in Florida is part of a broader national trend, with several Republican-led states introducing similar legislation to restrict the teaching of CRT. DeSantis has framed his actions as part of a larger movement to protect children from what he perceives as harmful ideological influences in the classroom. However, critics argue that such laws could lead to an erosion of academic standards, particularly in the way American history and issues of race are taught in schools.
As the debate over CRT continues to unfold across the nation, the Florida law marks a key moment in the ongoing struggle over the role of education in shaping national identity and the boundaries of political discourse.
