Florida’s Book-Banning Crusade Has Found Its Next Target: Dictionaries
A law signed by Ron DeSantis last year has led one school district to remove three publishers’ dictionaries, while another removed classics like Paradise Lost and East of Eden, for their descriptions of “sexual conduct.”
DeSantis's Impact on Florida Education
Florida's education system has endured significant upheaval under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis. In his pursuit of a popular movement for his presidential campaign, DeSantis has targeted educators and implemented policies under the guise of combating 'woke' excesses in public classrooms. However, the consequences of these policies are proving to be absurd and burdensome for the already struggling education force.
One notable consequence is the removal of dictionaries from the shelves of school libraries in a Florida panhandle school district. This action was taken in order to comply with a DeSantis law that aims to regulate descriptions of 'sexual conduct'. Additionally, another school district in central Florida has removed 673 books, including well-known literary classics like Paradise Lost and East of Eden, from its classrooms.
These developments may seem nonsensical, but they are the result of DeSantis's fantastical and bigoted worldview. He and his allies believe that teachers and administrators are secretly conspiring to influence students' sexual orientations and gender identities. To combat this perceived threat, DeSantis has implemented laws demanding parental consent for various school activities. The vague wording of these laws, combined with severe penalties for violations, has created obstacles for educators, leading to a decline in student well-being.
The Impact on Transgender Students
The anti-trans panic spearheaded by DeSantis has also resulted in negative consequences for transgender students. Last year, Florida implemented a rule that restricts how educators can refer to students, seemingly out of fear that transgender identities would be accepted by school authorities. As a result, even standard nicknames are now subject to restrictions, with some school districts requiring teachers to use students' legal names unless a signed parental form stating otherwise is provided.
These actions not only disregard the well-being and identity of transgender students, but they also contribute to an environment of exclusion and discrimination within schools. Rather than supporting and affirming all students, these restrictions create unnecessary barriers that further marginalize transgender individuals.
The Removal of Dictionaries
Recent reports indicate that the Escambia County School District in Florida has removed several dictionaries from its school libraries. These include the American Heritage Children’s Dictionary, Webster’s Dictionary for Students, and Merriam-Webster’s Elementary Dictionary. In total, over 2,800 library books have been removed from Escambia County schools under a law signed by DeSantis.
The law, known as HB 1069, allows residents to request the removal of books from school libraries within their district if they contain depictions or descriptions of sexual conduct. This criteria naturally extends to dictionaries, as they provide definitions and explanations of various terms, including those related to sexual topics. The removal of dictionaries not only limits students' access to important educational resources, but it also raises concerns about censorship and the suppression of knowledge in educational settings.
