Florida's Department of Education has made headlines after rejecting 54 mathematics textbooks, claiming they include "prohibited topics" such as critical race theory (CRT) and other "unsolicited strategies." The move has sparked controversy, particularly as the banned materials include a book co-authored by former US President Barack Obama.
Controversial Rejections
State officials stated that 41% of submitted maths textbooks were deemed inappropriate for Florida's classrooms. Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has been actively opposing CRT, a framework examining systemic racism, which they argue is being "sneaked" into school materials.
Unexpected Targets
Among the rejected books is Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, a children's book by Barack Obama. Additionally, works by bestselling authors Jodi Picoult and John Green were flagged, despite their books primarily being novels rather than maths resources.
Mixed Reactions
While supporters applaud the state's "vigilance," critics argue the bans are politically motivated and harm educational quality. Jodi Picoult responded sarcastically on Twitter, joking about her "dangerous" maths-themed novel.
Florida's decision continues the national debate over education, censorship, and the role of ideology in schools.
