Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has corrected a law that caused hundreds of books to be removed from school libraries. The new law, approved by DeSantis on April 17, aims to limit challenges to books and classroom materials in schools across the state.
Effective July 1, the law specifies that individuals without children in a school district can object to only one material per month. However, there is no restriction on the number of challenges a parent with a child in a Florida school district can make, and no penalty is outlined for violating this law.
Speaking at an event in Jacksonville on Tuesday, Governor DeSantis acknowledged concerns about the excessive removal of books from classrooms in some school districts. He mentioned instances where people misuse curriculum transparency for political reasons, objecting to books considered normal, like classic literature.
During a news conference in February, DeSantis stated that Florida does not ban books but permits parents and others to raise objections to certain materials. However, he pointed out that some individuals have misused this process for political gain, emphasizing that many of the objected materials were on the Florida Department of Education's summer reading list, labeling the situation fraudulent.
Despite assertions that Florida does not ban books in schools, many have been removed due to residents' objections. The governor has acknowledged that some people have abused the objection process, particularly those without children who make numerous objections.
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The new law is partly a reaction to a 2023 policy that mandated schools to remove books deemed pornographic, harmful to minors, or depicting sexual activity within five days of an objection, keeping them out of circulation during any challenge. This policy sparked national controversy when local schools faced numerous obstacles to various books, including classics and children's books.
The policy, following the passing into law of HB 1069, placed limitations on the sexual education and classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity for grades Pre-K through 8th. The law allows parents and citizens to petition for the removal of classroom books and materials deemed to contain 'pornography' or descriptions of sexual conduct. Individual school districts are tasked with developing processes to handle objections and provide resolutions.
The situation has led to debates where parents clash over whether certain books should be removed or remain available to students. Meanwhile, teachers and educators in Florida are grappling with laws signed by Governor DeSantis that expand 'parental rights' in schools.
In the first half of the 2023-2024 school year, Florida experienced the highest number of book bans among all states, as reported by PEN America, an advocacy group for literary freedom. Out of 4,349 book bans documented across 23 states and 53 public schools from July to December 2023, a substantial 3,135 bans occurred in Florida, impacting 11 school districts. One district, Escambia County public schools, alone had over 1,600 cases and is currently facing legal action regarding the book removals.
PEN America has raised concerns about the broader implications of book bans, emphasizing they often target narratives related to race, sexual identities, and sexual content. Florida is at the forefront of book bans, with other states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Kentucky, and Virginia following suit. The books commonly banned cover topics like sex, abortion, rape, racism, and LGBTQ+ themes.
PEN America highlighted the confusion stemming from inconsistent legal definitions of sexually explicit content, which impacts what materials are deemed acceptable in schools. The organization emphasized that book bans jeopardize the education of millions of students and erode fundamental American values of free expression.
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