According to an item on tonight’s agenda, Plantation Councilwoman Jennifer Andreu wants Broward high students to learn about subjects Florida Governor Ron DeSantis calls “neo-Marxism.” Andreu’s resolution calls on the Florida Department of Education to “reverse its rejection of advanced placement courses covering African-American studies in state high schools.” Andreu wants Mayor Nick Sortal, her fellow Councilmembers and all Plantation residents to oppose the Department of Education’s “position that Advanced Placement (AP) courses covering African-American studies will indoctrinate students to a political agenda.”
In January, Governor DeSantis and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz rejected the College Board’s planned curriculum for African-American AP classes. DeSantis objected to parts of the curriculum focusing on critical race theory, queerness studies and intersectionality. Commissioner Diaz said, “We proudly require the teaching of African American history. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education.”
Diaz provided examples of the curriculum that showcased the work of “avowed” Communists and Marxists.
A week later, the College Board removed the objectionable material from the African-American History AP course. The New York Times reported the College Boars “purged the names of many Black writers and scholars associated with Critical Race Theory, The Queer Experience and Black Feminism.”
The New York Times said the College Board “ushered out some politically fraught topics, like Black Lives Matter, from the former curriculum.”
Despite the about-face by the College Board, political opponents and media allies tried to use the AP course rejection to paint DeSantis as an opponent of the study of African-American history. At a Wednesday morning press conference, Governor DeSantis debunked this myth.
Under his watch, DeSantis said Florida expanded the scope of required teaching of African-American history. He said required courses cover colonial life to the Jim Crow era to modern day topics. According to the Governor’s office, “The Governor has signed legislation that ensures that Florida’s students learn about the 1920 Ocoee Election Day Riots in addition to requiring instruction on slavery, the Civil War, and Jim Crow laws.”
On Wednesday, DeSantis described portions of the AP curriculum removed by The College Board as “neo-Marxism.”
Does Councilwoman Jennifer Andreu want Broward Schools to teach students these neo-Marxism topics?
Why is Andreu even wasting Council meeting time on a moot point? The Department of Education prevailed when the College Board revised the curriculum last month. Plantation is powerless to direct Governor DeSantis, the Department of Education or The College Board on any matter?
Does Councilwoman Andreu have other reasons to criticize Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education?
Since January, Democrats and media allies have blasted DeSantis’ attempts to root out Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in Florida universities.
“I think people want to see true academics and they want to get rid of some of the political window dressing that seems to accompany all this,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Bradenton, adding that DEI and CRT programs would get “No funding, and that will wither on the vine.”
Since December 2019, Jennifer Andreu, a Democrat, has served as the Miami-Dade Schools Assistant Superintendent for Diversity and Equity. Before that, Andreu spent a year as Miami-Dade Schools Economic Equity and Diversity Compliance Officer.
REDBROWARD asked Ms. Andreu about her resolution. As of publication, she had not responded.
REDBROWARD 