A Florida congressional bill seeks to extend the law that prohibits addressing gender identity issues in public schools through third grade. Now, the limitation would include higher ranks.
Advances in Tallahassee, Bill HB-1223 which seeks to expand the law that prohibits the teaching of gender identity in public schools.
Sometimes these topics are sensitive and the best place for that conversation is between a parent and a child at home, not in the classroom, the proposal’s sponsor said.
This pushes the boundaries of the Parental Rights Act signed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis that prohibits addressing sexual orientation issues in public schools until third grade. But the bill extends this limitation to eighth grade.
Roberto Alonso, Miami Dade School Board Member, District 4
“We put our teachers in an awkward position for a long time with different grades of students. I think if we make a law that covers the whole eighth grade it would be a lot better for them, especially the parents.”
Representative Adam Anderson says:
“This is happening in school districts from northwest Florida to Miami,” the rep said. But Lucía Báez Geller of the Miami Dade School Board said the measure would not affect Miami public schools.
“It’s part of the culture wars that we see in our schools, the truth is that it’s not being addressed in these classes and the most important thing is that we should be talking about education right now, it’s more than funds for our children’s educational experiences, says Geller.
The proposal, which was approved by the lower house’s Subcommittee on Elections and Innovation, also includes restrictions in the classroom and for teachers on the use of pronouns that do not match people’s biological sex.
“We need teachers to teach and not be intimidated. Truth is out of place right now in education,” Geller says.
But Alonso contradicts Geller, and assures that the proposal is necessary: ”A perfect example is that our libraries, in the schools, have books which are not suitable for pupils in third grade and below. We are going to be able to have all the pupils at the interior of libraries with books suitable for all ages. »
The proposal must still be debated in the education and employment committee of the lower house before being discussed in plenary.