A Florida School's Black History Month Permission Slip Went Viral, And People Are Weighing In On The Crumbling State Of Education
"This boiled my blood. My 8th grade son also brought home a permission form for Black History Month where I was sure to write 'Black History is American History.' This is beyond ridiculous." —@jennyleeisme
Well, a Miami-Dade County public school is going viral for seemingly requiring a signed permission slip for students to read a book by a Black author DURING Black History Month.
Yes, you read that right. The now-viral permission slip, seen by over 13 million people on Twitter, has caused serious outrage. The permission slip describes a school event called a "Read Aloud," where "Students will participate and listen to a book written by an African American."
The user that originally posted the permission slip to Twitter is a Florida parent who tagged the Miami-Dade County's superintendent and wrote: "I had to give permission for this or else my child would not participate???"
Sharing a similar experience, another Florida parent commented: "This boiled my blood. My 8th grade son also brought home a permission form for #BlackHistoryMonth where I was sure to write 'Black History is American History.' This is beyond ridiculous."
This boiled my blood. My 8th grade son also brought home a permission form for #BlackHistoryMonth where I was sure to write "Black History is American History." This is beyond ridiculous.
People online pointed out the permission slip's controversial phrasing: "Also, 'by an African-American' is the strangest choice of phrasing that could possibly be used here. Why not use the author’s/reader’s name or the book’s title or give context on the book’s subject matter? ANYTHING normal. But just 'by an African-American,' Florida are u okay?"
Also “by an African-American” is the strangest choice of phrasing that could possibly be used here. Why not use the author’s/reader’s name or the book’s title or give context on the book’s the subject matter? ANYTHING normal. but… Just “by an African-American”🧐Florida are u ok
"Not children needing permission to read," another user wrote. "No wonder the literacy rates are in the toilet. And it being an issue to have a book by a Black author during Black History Month in 2024."
Not children needing permission to READ 😭 No wonder the literacy rates are in the toilet. And it being an issue to have a book by a Black author during Black History Month in 2024 💀💀💀
The ACLU of Florida also weighed in, calling out Florida's "anti-Black" education policies: "This is what Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-Black education policies have done to Florida schools. Students needing permission slips to learn Black history, and during Black History Month."
"Students will participate and listen to a book written by an African American."
This is what Gov. Ron DeSantis' anti-Black education policies have done to Florida schools: Students needing permission slips to learn Black history, and during Black History Month. https://t.co/QOhZdrVqA9
"I need schools to start sending permission slips home to Black parents and ask if it's ok to read books written by white people," @BlackKnight10k suggested, pointing out the double standard.
I need schools to start sending permission slips home to black parents and ask if it's ok to read books written by white people https://t.co/3L3hGhlGGX
— I Smoked Presidential Immunity (@BlackKnight10k) February 13, 2024
@BlackKnight10k
"Times like this remind me that we are barely 2 generations removed from the explicit, on the books racism and discrimination our grandparents and great grandparents experienced," another user wrote.
times like this remind me that we are barely 2 generations removed from the explicit, on the books racism and discrimination our grandparents and great grandparents experienced https://t.co/69TcyggFuJ
— afro-arakkii leo says🔺RESIST🔺 (@arakkosuperstar) February 13, 2024
@arakkosuperstar
In response to the backlash, Florida's education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. seemingly disavowed the permission slip, stating: "Florida does not require a permission slip to teach African American history or to celebrate Black History Month. Any school that does this is completely in the wrong," according to NBC News.
BuzzFeed reached out to the Miami-Dade County's Office of Communications for a statement to which they responded, saying: "We realize that the description of the event may have caused confusion, and we are working with our schools to reemphasize the importance of clarity for parents in describing activities/events that would require parental permission."
This isn't the first time Florida's education system has been under fire. Last year, Governor DeSantis defended the state's new curriculum that teaches students the idea that "slaves developed skills which, in some instances, can be applied for their personal benefit."
What are your thoughts on this situation? Let us know in the comments below.
