Florida Public School Demands Parents Sign Permission Slips For Students To Participate In Black History Month
iPrep Academy public school in Miami, Florida, is mandating parents to submit a signed permission slip to allow their children to participate in Black History Month activities.
The policy was approved last November as an extension of the Parental Bill of Rights, which "provides that the state, its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or other institution may not infringe upon the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of a minor child."
Some parents were reportedly shocked at the request.
One concerned mother, Jill Peeling, told WPLG that she thought she misunderstood the document. "I'm concerned. I'm concerned as a citizen," she said.
"Something feels very off here, and the fact that the school needs to cover themselves against the state feels even worse," Peeling added.
According to the news outlet, the slip requests that parents sign off on student's ability to participate in "class and school wide presentations showcasing the achievements and recognizing the rich and diverse traditions, histories, and innumerable contributions of the Black communities."
Gov. Ron DeSantis's administration also banned a record number of textbooks and halting funds for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Miami-Dade School Board member Steve Gallon admitted that he is concerned about the outcome of students whose parents choose to pull them out of the school's Black History Month activities.
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"We have to implement the rules that are adopted by the State Board of Education, but we cannot throw the baby out with the bath water and we have to square some obligations we have to academic freedom." Gallon said.
Marvin Dunn, a Florida International University Professor and expert in African-American history shares some concern with Gallon, saying this new policy will create a generation of people who are left miseducated on Black History.
"It's not about banning books necessarily," he began. "It's about banning ideas."
