Florida Board of Education Approves Rule Banning ‘1619 Project’ from Classrooms

The Florida State Board of Education on Thursday approved a new rule banning critical race theory and the use of material from the controversial “1619 Project” in the state’s classrooms.

During a meeting of the board on Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis said the state must have an education system that is “preferring fact over narrative.” He said that means keeping “outrageous” approaches such as “critical race theory” out of schools.

DeSantis noted that state law requires the teaching of slavery, civil rights and more and it “absolutely should be taught.” However, he argued that teachers should not go beyond the historical record and paint a portrait of a rotten nation.

Both critical race theory and the 1619 project have been touted by educators and other progressives over the last year as the nation has faced a racial reckoning brought on by the murder of George Floyd.