Florida’s Board of Education stirred up controversy at their recent meeting in Miami, held for the first time in seven years at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. The meeting was filled with heated discussions and disagreements, starting with the board’s order for the Florida High School Athletic Association to use the word “sex” instead of “gender” in response to a federal discrimination policy.
Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz, kicked off the meeting by proudly announcing Florida’s top ranking in education outcomes by U.S. News. However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm. Andrew Spar of the Florida Education Association criticized the board, governor, and state legislature for the state’s low teacher salaries and shortage.
While Diaz praised Miami-Dade County Public Schools for their programs, parents like Lisette Fernandez expressed concerns about the board’s focus on what they see as divisive cultural issues. The approval of changes to social studies standards, including the inclusion of “ancient Jewish” civilization, raised questions about the promotion of specific religious values in public education.
Critics, including teacher Crystal Etienne and Katie Blankenship of PEN America, raised constitutional concerns and fears of increased book removals from schools. Despite attempts to address these issues, Diaz refused to take questions from the media.
The meeting highlighted the ongoing tensions between the Board of Education and various stakeholders in Florida’s education system, emphasizing the need for open dialogue and collaboration to address the state’s educational challenges.