Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. speaks on January 23 in Jacksonville. Photo by Corey Perrine, Florida Times-Union/USA TODAY NETWORK.
Sep 24, 2024 Story by: Editor
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida’s education commissioner has withdrawn from a town hall meeting focused on the state’s new guidelines for teaching Black History.
Reports indicate that hundreds of people RSVP’d for the event.
The purpose of the education town hall is to gather different perspectives on African American History standards. It is being held in Miami Gardens, a city predominantly inhabited by Black residents.
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz had originally committed to attending, even amid recent controversy surrounding new curriculum guidelines regarding how slavery is taught in Florida classrooms. One specific point of contention is a lesson stating that enslaved people “developed skills from which they could personally benefit.”
This sparked national outrage, with concerns that Black American History is being diluted in Florida.
However, on Wednesday, Diaz—who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year—decided to cancel his appearance at the town hall.
In response, State Sen. Shevrin Jones, who is organizing the event, issued a statement:
“After personally confirming his attendance, it is deeply disappointing that Commissioner Diaz now lacks the will and courage to defend his Department’s misguided curriculum changes. Instead, the Commissioner and DeSantis’ administration have once again turned their back on the largest Black city in the state.”
Diaz and the governor have faced a mix of criticism and support over various policies, ranging from controversial book bans to the removal of AP Psychology courses from Florida schools.
In a tweet posted late Wednesday, Diaz clarified his absence:
“There was nothing sudden about my inability to attend Senator Jones’s town hall. As I told the senator last week, I will be visiting schools throughout the state to welcome back students, parents and teachers for the first day of school.” Source: Local10
