Education Policy, Business and Technology

Textbook challenges grow in Florida under new law

Orlando Sentinel: FORT LAUDERDALE — A parent is citing profanity and violence in trying to get the local school to ban Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” itself a cautionary tale on the banning of books.

Another wants to remove Walter Dean Myers’ “Bad Boy” for using the word “penis” and a homophobic slur.

Elsewhere in Florida, some say global warming and evolution are a hoax and should not be taught in textbooks unopposed. Others say their school’s textbooks shortchange Islam’s role in the world, while their opponents argue it’s the danger posed by Muslim terrorists that’s underexposed.

Under a bill passed by the Legislature this year, any district resident — regardless of whether they have a child in school — can now challenge material as pornographic, biased, inaccurate or a violation of state law and get a hearing before an outside mediator.

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