Some history-conscious legislators lament the possibility that students will graduate high school without having learned the history of communism, the ever-failed experiment of political and economic governance that directly impacted many immigrants to America. Concerned leaders and victims of communism want to change that, advocating for a bill to teach the history of communism to all students in Florida K-12 public schools.
Preservation and Memorial of Family History
Many grandparents and great-grandparents of Florida students escaped communism in Cuba and various Latin American countries, many risking their lives to come to the United States. Yet, this historical knowledge is close to slipping from the public consciousness. Groups representing victims of communism have been working for years to ensure students are taught to remember the past as a way of preserving the future, and 2024 might be the year these efforts are adopted in Florida.
Scope and Sequence of Curriculum
Florida Bill HB 1349, introduced by Reps. James Buchanan and Chuck Brannan, would require curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade to cover the history of the domestic communism movement, related atrocities committed internationally, and the communist threat of the 20th century. Instruction would be appropriate to the grade level.
Proposal to Teach History of Communism in Florida K-12 Public Schools
In a recent legislative subcommittee session in Florida, lawmakers discussed a proposed measure that seeks to include the history of communism in the educational curriculum for K-12 public schools across the state. This initiative, championed by Florida Republicans since January, aims to incorporate teachings on the historical development of communism in the United States, along with its influence in Cuba and various Latin American countries.
Understanding Communism in the 20th Century, Set for the 2026-2027 School Year
Additionally, the bill emphasizes the significance of understanding communism’s rise as a global threat during the 20th century, specifically referencing events like China’s Cultural Revolution. If approved, the bill would be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year.
Approved in Education Appropriations Subcommittee 10-2
During a recent meeting of the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, which is predominantly Republican, the bill moved forward with a vote of 10 to 2 despite the absence of three Democratic members. It is plausible that the Democratic members chose to miss the vote as they did not want to go on record and have to explain a vote opposed to teaching children about the history of communism.
Understanding History Crucial to Avoid Repeating Its Mistakes
Representative Alina Garcia, a Republican from Miami with Cuban heritage, strongly advocated for the bill, emphasizing the importance of educating the youth on the horrors associated with communism based on her family’s experiences fleeing Cuba’s communist regime. She argued that understanding history is crucial to avoid repeating its mistakes, particularly highlighting the potential dangers of communism to the United States.
Critics Decry Politicization of Term Communism as Current Political Barb
Critics of the bill, however, argue that the term “communism” has become politically charged in Florida, especially among South Florida’s significant immigrant population from communist regimes. They claim that the term has been used too liberally to describe policies that, while left-leaning, are a far cry from genuine communist policies that criminalize dissidents and repudiate private property.
Florida Moms Emphasize Including All Aspects of Communism
Opposition to the bill came from Juliet Meadows-Keefe of Florida Moms for Accurate Education, who wanted to be sure that if the bill passes, the curriculum will include instruction on the divisiveness of the McCarthy era in the United States, where people were accused by their neighbors of being communists and fear and suspicious reigned in the collective conscience. There is no reason to believe the bill would not require instruction on that era of American history, as many Americans today lived through that period.
Detractors Point to Exclusion of Other Topics in History Curriculum
Detractors point out the contradiction in pushing for education on communism when the state has enacted policies limiting the teaching of certain aspects of history, such as slavery and African American studies. Democratic Representative Patricia Williams voiced concerns that the bill aims to introduce divisive content into classrooms, overshadowing the pressing need to improve student literacy.
Political Phrases Bandied About in Campaigns, Too Divisive for Classroom
The debate extends into the political arena, with accusations and defenses regarding the support of communism and authoritarian governments becoming focal points in election campaigns, notably among candidates vying for the Hispanic vote, which includes a substantial number of Cuban Americans, a population strongly anti-communist with recent communist history.
Instruction to Present a Balanced View of Communism’s Impact
Republican Representative Chuck Brannan, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, countered by stating that the bill is intended to enrich students’ historical knowledge without being divisive. He emphasized that the goal is to present a balanced view of communism’s impact on societies, recognizing the suffering and displacement it caused worldwide, including among Florida’s diverse immigrant communities who have fled communist regimes.
Counteract Cultural Marxism
Speaking in favor of the legislation, John Labriola of the Christian Family Coalition stated that the curriculum could prevent a growing form of “cultural Marxism,” which many families are wary of in their opposition to critical race theory and modernized sex education curriculum.
Curriculum Development Set in Motion by Bill
The bill does not set out to write the curriculum but to set a standard that all students should be instructed about the history of communism in their state, the nation, and the world. There will be time for input into the content of the curriculum and its scope and sequence if the bill passes.
