Florida Governor DeSantis signs bill requiring history of communism to be taught in lower grades
- In Reports
- 12:34 PM, Apr 19, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill mandating the teaching of the history of communism in lower grades. This signing date coincides with the 63rd anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion, a failed US-backed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro's dictatorship in Cuba.
"We know that the Bay of Pigs was launched because the island of Cuba had succumbed to communist tyranny," DeSantis said at a press conference at the Hialeah Gardens Museum, according to US Today. The museum honours the efforts of the Bay of Pigs' Assault Brigade 2506.
"We're going to tell the truth about communism in the state of Florida. We're going to tell the truth about the evils of communism,” DeSantis added.
Under the bill, the Florida Department of Education would “prepare and offer” standards for the "age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate" instruction on the history of communism for all grade levels. Certain concepts of the curriculum strongly highlight the economic turmoil and limitations on personal freedoms commonly observed in numerous Communist countries.
"The increasing threat of communism in the United States and to our allies through the 20th century," is one of the mandated topics, which must start being taught during the 2026-27 school year. So is "the economic, industrial and political events that have preceded and anticipated communist revolutions."
According to DeSantis’ website, the bill, “adds to existing Communist history standards with instruction on the history of Communism in the United States and the tactics of Communist movements.” Further, it “authorizes the newly-established Institute for Freedom in the Americas at Miami Dade College to promote the importance of economic and individual freedoms as a means to advance human progress—specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Reportedly, the institute is set to partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University.
The website adds that the bill “enables the Florida Department of State, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Education, to recommend to the Legislature the creation of a Florida-based museum on the history of Communism” and “prepares students to withstand indoctrination on Communism at colleges and universities.”
Currently, Florida students can receive lessons on communism in high-school social studies courses or a seventh-grade civics and government course. A high-school government class that has been required for graduation also includes 45 minutes of instruction on “Victims of Communism Day” which covers communist regimes through history.
The bill passed with bipartisan support, with only seven Democrats in the Florida House and Senate voting against it.
Image source: AP
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