FLORIDA: TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN SHAKESPEARE?
Attention all Floridians! It seems that our state lawmakers have once again outdone themselves with a new law that could potentially restrict even Shakespeare from being taught in our schools. Yes, you read that right - the Bard of Avon himself may not be safe from the clutches of this new legislation.
So, what exactly is this law and how does it work? Well, it's called the "Instructional Materials Bill" and it allows any resident of Florida to challenge the use of instructional materials in our schools. This includes textbooks, novels, and even plays like Shakespeare's famous works.
Now, I know what you're thinking - who in their right mind would want to challenge Shakespeare? Well, apparently there are some folks out there who believe that his plays promote "anti-Christian" values and "homosexual indoctrination." Yes, you read that right - they're worried that our kids might turn gay if they read Romeo and Juliet.
But wait, it gets even better. The law also allows for the challengers to remain anonymous, which means that anyone with a grudge against a particular book or author can use this law to try and get it banned without even having to reveal their identity. Talk about shady!
So, what does this mean for our schools? Well, it means that teachers may have to start censoring their lesson plans in order to avoid any potential challenges. Instead of reading classic works of literature like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby, they may have to resort to reading bland, politically correct texts that won't offend anyone.
But let's be real here - is that really what we want for our kids? Do we want them to grow up in a world where they're sheltered from anything that might challenge their beliefs or make them uncomfortable? I don't think so.
Look, I get it - not everyone is going to agree with everything that's taught in our schools. But that's the beauty of education - it's supposed to challenge us and make us think critically about the world around us. If we start censoring everything that might offend someone, we're doing a disservice to our children and to ourselves.
So, let's stand up for our right to read and learn about whatever we want - even if it means defending Shakespeare from the clutches of this ridiculous law. After all, if we can't laugh at ourselves and our lawmakers every now and then, what's the point of living in Florida?
New law for Florida school books makes even Shakespeare 'suspect' https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/15/law-limits-florida-school-books/70414412007/
