March 21, 2023

NO ONE HATES JUST AFRICAN-AMERICANS:

How a Florida bill could hurt Jewish studies (Adam Kovac March 17, 2023, The Forward)

Since early February, the bill has been winding its way through the state's legislative process. The bill contains language banning "Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Studies, Critical Ethnic Studies, Radical Feminist Theory, Radical Gender Theory, Queer Theory, Critical Social Justice, or Intersectionality" -- or schools would risk losing funding. 

The bill also prohibits schools from using state or federal funds to advocate for equity, diversity or inclusion. 

Since its introduction, the bill has been widely denounced among academics, with the American Council of Learned Societies calling it a "danger" to higher education. 

The wording of the bill is so vague that some fear it could have repercussions for courses and programs that are not in the crosshairs of right-wing shibboleths but could become collateral damage. 

"If the wording remains so open and so vague, it's not just Jewish studies that can be affected, it could be any program that legislators find they disagree with," said Rachel Harris, director of Jewish studies at Florida Atlantic University. 

Given the similar vagueness of the "Don't Say Gay" law, the weaponization is presumably the intent.

Posted by at March 21, 2023 12:00 AM

  

« IT'S LIKE SHE'S TRYING TO PROVE CRT's POINT: | Main | THE JACKSON/GORSUCH AXIS: »