Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has passed legislation banning sex education from schools for younger children. DeSantis wants to ensure that parents continue to have an influence on the topics of their children’s schooling.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law into law at a school in Spring Hill, north of Tampa.
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A law passed in Florida is attracting a lot of attention and criticism in the USA. Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of the state of Florida, signed legislation on Monday that would limit sex education in schools. The law, officially called Parental Rights in Education, bans teaching children about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade
In addition, classes that are “not appropriate for age or development” for students in other grades are prohibited. The law also allows parents to sue school districts they believe are being taught in violation of the law. The change is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.
“We continue to recognize that parents in the state of Florida play a fundamental role in the education, health care and well-being of their children,” DeSantis said at the signing ceremony on Monday. “I don’t care what other people say. I’m not backing down.”
DeSantis, who is seeking re-election as governor this year, is said to be a possible presidential candidate for the 2024 elections. Republicans in other states have previously said that parents should have more control over what young children learn in school.
Teachers criticize the law
DeSantis signed the law into law Monday at an elementary school in Spring Hill, north of Tampa. DeSantis was surrounded by students and parents, who explained in personal faces how necessary the new law was.
The Florida teachers’ union called the decree a “political ploy” to restrict sex education. For schools, the law means a lot of work because it is complex and certain formulations are sometimes imprecise. The decree also restricts freedom of speech, since the discussion about gender identity and sexual orientation “in certain grades or in a certain way” is already prohibited, the union criticized.
“Children are not pawns in politics”
The enactment, dubbed the “Don’t Talk About Homosexuality Act” by opponents, has fueled debate in America about what schools should teach children about race and gender. At several Florida universities, students have demonstrated against the law. US President Joe Biden described the decree as “hateful”.
The entertainment group “Walt Disney”, which operates its largest theme park alongside television stations and film studios in Florida, sharply condemned the new law. “Our goal as a company is for this law to be reversed or repealed in court,” a spokesman said on Monday.
Various civil rights groups want to take action against the new law. The organization “Lambda Legal” announced that it would challenge it in court. “Children are not pawns in politics,” said a published statement.