Florida ‘effectively’ bans Advanced Placement Psychology course due to curriculum's discussion of gender and sexual orientation

[essentialsaltes]

Florida officials told school superintendents Thursday that they may offer the class but only if material concerning sexual orientation and gender identity is removed, said William J. “Bill” Montford III, chief executive at the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, who was on the call. He said districts were encouraged to teach a modified version of the class.

The College Board, which runs the AP program, responded that the class will not be compliant with college requirements if these topics are removed and that schools that do so cannot call the class “Advanced Placement.”

The AP Psychology course asks students to “describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development.” The College Board said this element of the class had been present since the course launched in 1993. Florida schools have offered the class every year since then, an official said.

In practice, the only real requirement is for teaching the definitions of sexual orientation and gender identity and the difference between them, said Elliott Hammer, professor of psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana and chief reader for AP Psychology exams.

[AP psych teacher] Chapman also said the content on the prohibited topics was scant, but she argued it is essential. They “allow us to understand fully and completely the human experience,” she said.

[Florida's] policies are unsettling to the American Psychological Association, which argues that gender and sexuality are essential topics for any psychology course.

 

[Hammster]

Win!!!

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

I'm curious how many schools offer an AP Psych class. AP classes were important to me as I hit college with I think 15 AP credits in Math, Biology, History, Chemistry and English. I did take an Intro to Psych class as a senior and we did discuss a number of adult issues on sexuality. As 17-18 year olds, we were emotionally able to have those discussions.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I'm curious how many schools offer an AP Psych class.

AP Psych was the 6th most popular AP class in 2023. 28,000 Floridian students took the exam (and not all who take the class necessarily take the exam).

--

Sample Syllabus

1. 6.7 Gender and Sexual Orientation - Skill 1.A

 

[keith99]

A win win for Desantis. After all he seems to want to make sure students cannot actually think and eliminating any AP class is thus a win.

 

[Fantine]

Another step in dismantling Florida's education system.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Another step in dismantling Florida's education system.

Amazing isn't it.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

Another step in dismantling Florida's education system.

Maybe Desantis can help them pass nursing exams instead....

 

[wing2000]

Maybe Desantis can help them pass nursing exams instead....

I doubt he would be much help....

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

I doubt he would be much help....

I'm referring to the nurse exam scandal which is still affecting recruitment at my hospital. Basically if you list any of the Florida schools implicated in the scandal, our HR team has to review all of your documentation with a fine toothcomb.

Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme Leads to Federal Charges Against 25 Defendants

www.justice.gov

 

[FireDragon76]

Remember, attacking academia is what authoritarian regimes are known for.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The AP Psychology course asks students to “describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development.” The College Board said this element of the class had been present since the course launched in 1993. Florida schools have offered the class every year since then, an official said.

Has the nature of the conversation surrounding that topic changed since 1993? I suspect we all know it has.

For instance, in the 90's, it was still listed as "Gender Dysphoria" in the DSM (along with things like Schizophrenia and Body Dysmorphia)

The goalposts have moved a little bit since then...

 

[Pommer]

Has the nature of the conversation surrounding that topic changed since 1993? I suspect we all know it has.

For instance, in the 90's, it was still listed as "Gender Dysphoria" in the DSM (along with things like Schizophrenia and Body Dysmorphia)

The goalposts have moved a little bit since then...

The nomenclature (especially for us lay-folk) will meander a bit, yes.

 

[essentialsaltes]

For instance, in the 90's, ... the DSM

The question is what the AP Psych syllabus entails. Was it considerably different last year when it was legal?

Or if not, what was actually objectionable about it (other than it obviously transgresses the law that bans discussion of such topics)?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Florida officials told school superintendents Thursday that they may offer the class but only if material concerning sexual orientation and gender identity is removed, said William J. “Bill” Montford III, chief executive at the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, who was on the call. He said districts were encouraged to teach a modified version of the class.

Florida unbans it. Maybe. Getting mixed signals here.

AP Psychology can be taught in Florida in its ‘entirety,’ state official says, amid fight over gender and sexual orientation teachings​

The head of Florida’s education department on Friday told school officials that Advanced Placement Psychology courses may be taught in their “entirety” after dizzying concerns over new state laws barring material on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. sent a letter to school superintendents Friday stressing that his team is not discouraging districts from teaching AP Psychology.

“In fact, the Department believes that AP Psychology can be taught in its entirety in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate and the course remains listed in our course catalog,” Diaz wrote.

 

[FireDragon76]

Florida unbans it. Maybe. Getting mixed signals here.

AP Psychology can be taught in Florida in its ‘entirety,’ state official says, amid fight over gender and sexual orientation teachings​

The head of Florida’s education department on Friday told school officials that Advanced Placement Psychology courses may be taught in their “entirety” after dizzying concerns over new state laws barring material on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. sent a letter to school superintendents Friday stressing that his team is not discouraging districts from teaching AP Psychology.

“In fact, the Department believes that AP Psychology can be taught in its entirety in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate and the course remains listed in our course catalog,” Diaz wrote.

In other words, they are washing their hands of the matter and putting responsibility on local school districts, who can still be sued into the stone age by angry parents.

You can bet that isn't reassuring.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Florida unbans it. Maybe. Getting mixed signals here.

So are the schools.

Florida schools drop AP Psychology after state says it violates the law​

Large school districts across Florida are dropping plans to offer Advanced Placement psychology, heeding a warning from state officials that the course’s discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity violates state law.

Further complicating the matter, a day later, Florida’s education chief told districts that his agency believes the schools can offer the course “in its entirety” but also said it should be “in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate.” The state has previously said teaching school-age students about sexual orientation and gender are inappropriate. [see, mixed messages. Following up, a spokesman for the department refused comment to clarify.]

The AP psychology course asks students to “describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development.” The College Board said this element of the class had been present since the course launched in 1993.

Eight of the 11 districts with the largest enrollments in the class are switching to alternate courses, and just one said it will stick with AP psychology. Two others are still deciding, officials said.

Teachers who violate [Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act] could see their teaching licenses suspended or revoked.

 

[mark46]

The question is what the AP Psych syllabus entails. Was it considerably different last year when it was legal?

Or if not, what was actually objectionable about it (other than it obviously transgresses the law that bans discussion of such topics)?

No, the question is why the state government wants to disadvantage their students in their preparation for college.

Is the next step to remove courses from the state colleges? Certainly, state money shouldn't support such courses.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

No, the question is why the state government wants to disadvantage their students in their preparation for college.

Is the next step to remove courses from the state colleges?

Exactly. AP classes are taken typically during junior and senior years, so they are 16-18 year olds who are qualified to take the classes. So this isn't like having sex ed classes in 8th grade where everything is a giggle. I remember in 8th grade (so... 1981?) my school had a very obviously gay man come into speak on sex ed. Being typical 8th graders, everyone was snickering and giggling. When I took a psych course as a senior, we were able to have adult conversations about sex. We could talk pretty rationally about inappropriate content, sexual attraction, and other topics.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Is the next step to remove courses from the state colleges?

Apparently, the next step is reading only parts of Shakespeare plays (leaving out the dirty bits).

Florida schools plan to use only excerpts from Shakespeare to avoid ‘raunchiness’​

Though once again there are mixed messages.

Florida clarifies that Shakespeare is OK for classrooms, but confusion still reigns​

But now that 'parents rights' have become supreme, it is not up to either the state or the schools to determine what is or isn't raunchy. Ultimately a special magistrate may make the call (even assuming a school would want to fight the matter at that level, rather than just quietly and cheaply ban the book).