Florida is first state to approve PragerU’s curriculum which raises concern for schools – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
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by MIAMI (WSVN) – Teachers from Miami-Dade County Public Schools are currently participating in professional development sessions organized by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to learn about the latest Civics and Government standards.
Curriculum guides are still under development for the upcoming school year and are raising concerns.
PragerU, a conservative nonprofit often criticized for downplaying systemic racism and promoting anti-immigrant theories, announced that Florida is “The first state to officially approve PragerU as an educational vendor.”
On Tuesday, PragerU made an announcement on Twitter that its teaching materials have been approved for use in Florida Public Schools. However, the curriculum has stirred up some controversy.
Among other things, the conservative non-profit has been accused of downplaying systematic racism.
“Here’s the first thing you need to know, slavery was not invented by white people,” said Candace Owens, PragerU.
Prager University foundation’s website states “It offers a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education.”
“We have seen that our schools have been hijacked by the left,” said a representative of PragerU in an interview.
The recent action taken by the Florida Department of Education aligns with the “Stop Woke Act” signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022.
Dr. Marvin Dunn, a well-known Black Historian Author told the Miami New Times that Florida’s new Black history standards are an invitation to disaster in the classroom.
“We are being told that slavery wasn’t that bad, that it was everyplace else, that the slaves didn’t have it all that bad,” said Dunn. “I just see this as being extremely chaotic going forward because black parents are not going to stand for this.
Cassie Palelis, the Deputy Director of Communications and spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, informed 7News regarding PragerU.
“Material aligns to Florida’s revised civics and government standards,” said Palelis.
It will be up to each district to decide if PragerU will play a role in the classroom in the fall.
7 News has reached out to both Broward and Miami Dade County Public Schools, to see if they plan to use ‘PragerU’ materials.
Miami Dade County Public Schools said that they are still underdeveloped for the upcoming school year.
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