Florida education commissioner skips forum on criticized Black history standards

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lots of of lawmakers, lecturers, faculty board members and oldsters crowded right into a South Florida church Thursday night for a discussion board on Florida’s new requirements for instructing Black historical past, which have drawn harsh criticism for requiring lecturers to instruct middle-school college students that enslaved individuals “developed abilities which, in some cases, might be utilized for his or her private profit.”

However one one that wasn’t in attendance was Florida Training Commissioner Manny Diaz — the person chargeable for overseeing the requirements.

The previous space highschool instructor had beforehand agreed to attend, in accordance with organizers. His participation was marketed on fliers publicizing the occasion, which was sponsored by Democratic Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones. A chair even was arrange on the rostrum for him with a placard bearing his identify.

Diaz, a former Florida lawmaker who was appointed commissioner final yr by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, stated on social media that “there was nothing sudden” about his lack of ability to attend the city corridor assembly at Antioch Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, the place two-thirds of residents are Black, in accordance with the U.S. Census Bureau.

“As I informed the senator final week, I will likely be visiting colleges all through the state to welcome again college students, dad and mom and lecturers for the primary day of faculty,” Diaz stated.

Most districts in Florida had their first day of faculty on Thursday.

Earlier than the city corridor assembly received underway, Anthony Durden, an area activist and minister from Miami Gardens, known as the brand new requirements disrespectful and insensitive. He stated the one solution to transfer ahead was with “trustworthy dialogue” however that college students have been being disadvantaged of that.

“To say that Blacks benefited from slavery is insane,” Durden stated.

DeSantis, who’s in search of the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has repeatedly defended the brand new language whereas insisting that his critics, who embody Vice President Kamala Harris and two main Black Republicans in Congress, are deliberately misinterpreting one line of the sweeping curriculum.

Harris, the nation’s first Black vice chairman, traveled to Florida final month to sentence the curriculum. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who’s the chamber’s sole Black Republican and can also be in search of the White Home, additionally issued a direct rebuke of DeSantis.

Critics stated the brand new faculty requirements are the newest in a sequence of assaults on Black historical past by the governor’s administration. At first of the yr, DeSantis’ administration blocked a brand new Superior Placement course on African American research from being taught in excessive colleges, saying it was opposite to state legislation.

DeSantis additionally has pushed by way of the “ Cease WOKE Act,” a legislation that limits discussions on race in colleges and by firms, and banned state universities from utilizing state or federal cash for variety applications.

Karen Thompson, a faculty counselor who attended the city corridor assembly, known as the brand new requirements “actually absurd and heart-wrenching.” Thompson stated she hoped they are going to be rescinded this yr since she believed they have been motivated by politics and racism. And he or she described Diaz’s motive for being absent as “a poor excuse.”

“My query to Governor DeSantis is, ‘Why all of the sudden all of those assaults on Black historical past?’ I feel it’s absurd as a result of slavery was under no circumstances a great factor,” Thompson stated. “Training ought to be in regards to the reality.”