Recent Controversies Regarding Education and Environmental Policy in Florida

Executive Summary: This document summarizes recent actions in Florida that have drawn criticism for alleged political influence on education and environmental policy. These include the removal of climate change references from textbooks, the proposed renaming of the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" in state materials, and broader concerns about "ideology or indoctrination" in schools.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. Textbook Censorship & Climate Change Denial:

• Summary: The Florida Department of Education is accused of removing or altering textbook content to minimize or eliminate references to climate change.
• Details:A 90-page section on climate change was removed from a high school chemistry book.
• References to climate change were cut from middle school biology textbooks, including passages urging government action, deemed a "political statement."
• The state demanded citations supporting the link between "human activity" and climate change in a high school biology textbook.
• "They asked to take out phrases such as climate change."
• No high school environmental science textbooks were included in the state's list of acceptable books.
• Context: These actions follow the removal of "DEI" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and "critical race theory" references from textbooks.
• Impact: Critics argue that these actions deny students a deeper understanding of climate change and its implications, especially considering Florida's vulnerability to climate change impacts.
• Quote: "Educators told the Sentinel the state's 'ill-considered actions' will 'rob students of a deeper understanding of global warming' and 'cheat Florida students.'"

1. "Gulf of America" Initiative:

• Summary: Florida GOP lawmakers have introduced bills to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" as the "Gulf of America" in state laws and educational materials, following an executive order from former President Donald Trump.
• Details:Multiple bills in the Florida Senate and House seek to replace all references to the "Gulf of Mexico" with "Gulf of America."
• One bill proposes designating a section of U.S. Highway 41 as the "Gulf of America Trail."
• The bills would require state agencies, county school districts, and charter school boards to use materials reflecting the new name.
• Governor DeSantis referenced "an area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America" in an order about a winter storm.
• The bills would update the name in over 50 Florida statutes.
• Quote: The bill noted that the “Gulf of Mexico spans approximately 1,700 miles along the United States coastline, of which 770 miles are located along the Florida coast.”
• Quote: Trump’s executive order directed the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to “rename the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘Gulf of America’ in order to recognize the importance of the body of water to the United States.”

1. "Ideology" and State Control Over Education:

• Summary: The Florida Department of Education asserts its role in ensuring that instructional materials align with state standards and do not include "any form of ideology or indoctrination."
• Details:The DeSantis administration has been accused of aligning Florida's public education system with conservative views.