(MIAMI)— PEN America today called new rules restricting sexual health education in Florida “dangerous and Orwellian” in depriving students of critical information.
Under the new rules, passed as part of HB 1069 last year, Florida’s Department of Education has directed about a dozen of the state’s largest school districts to further restrict their sexual and reproductive health education curriculum, according to recent reporting. While local school boards previously each oversaw their own curriculum, HB 1069 mandated districts to use the state’s textbooks or submit their own curricula for approval, with the directive that the content be abstinence-only and emphasize “the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.”
Amid confusion about whether individual districts’ curriculum were officially approved by the state or not, multiple districts report receiving phone calls in recent months directing them to exclude certain information and language from their lessons, which purportedly does not align with the state’s new standards.
In response to this development, Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office and also a parent of a child in Florida public schools, said: “These directives are dangerous and Orwellian. How do you teach students about sexually transmitted diseases if you can’t use the words necessary to do so? These new directives are so chilling that it’s impossible to see how teachers would be able to instruct students about sexual abuse or consent altogether, much less safe sex or provide basic information about human development. This censorship robs children and teens of factual information well-vetted by educational professionals to equip them to lead healthy lives. Just like the forced reshaping of AP African American Studies and the STOP WOKE and “Don’t Say Gay” laws, DeSantis is putting his culture war ahead of the well-being of Florida students. Information isn’t harmful, censorship is.”
Already, some districts outright canceled their sexual health education last school year as a result of confusion surrounding curricula approvals required by the law. Now, although instructions have differed by district, educators have reportedly been told not to teach about critical concepts or even use words like consent, abuse, domestic violence, gender identity and “fluids,” or to show students diagrams of human reproductive anatomy or images of contraceptives.
Stephana Ferrell, a leader at Florida Freedom to Read Project and also a public school parent impacted by the state’s failure to approve her district’s submitted curriculum, said: “Our districts should have the autonomy to address the immediate and unique health needs of our students and communities while empowering parents to decide whether or not to opt their children out of receiving this information. HB 1069 removed that local decision-making and gave it to the Florida Department of Education. Now, against the will of local parents who understand the need and benefits of comprehensive health education, the state has prohibited access to this age-relevant information.”
“The Florida government continues to engage in educational censorship that infringes on Florida students’ freedom to learn,” Blankenship added. “Florida parents already have the right to opt their children out of sexual health education, and just as most parents support students’ full access to school libraries, the majority of parents support comprehensive sexual health education. Instead of supporting all of our state’s families, the DeSantis administration is continuing to sow chaos in schools and harm students, manipulating already confusing legislation to deprive young people of critical information about puberty, sexual health and healthy relationships.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057