State Board of Education removes Sociology from General Education in the Florida College System
Press release from the Florida Department of Education
NAPLES, Fla. – Today, the Florida State Board of Education took decisive action to remove Sociology courses from the general education course lists across the Florida College System (FCS). With this action, the FCS is now fully aligned with the State University System Board of Governors, which recently removed Sociology courses from general education requirements at Florida’s public universities. Together, these decisions maintain a consistent statewide approach to general education courses.
“For years, we have watched Sociology drift further away from its academic purpose, moving from objective instruction toward the promotion of ideological viewpoints at the expense of true critical thinking,” said Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas. “We made repeated efforts to steer Sociology back on course, but it remains a sinking ship. Florida will not lower its expectations for general education. Academic quality, rigor, and foundational knowledge are non-negotiable. When a course fails to meet those standards, we will act.”
“General education courses must be grounded in rigorous scholarship and the accurate teaching of history. They cannot be mired in ideology or used as vehicles for indoctrination,” said Ryan Petty, Chair of the State Board of Education. “Today’s action draws a firm line: we will ensure every general education course meets the standards set forth in law, without exception.”
In 2023, Senate Bill 266 created section 1007.55, Florida Statutes, outlining required content, principles, and expectations for general education. The law emphasizes that undergraduate students should graduate as informed citizens by participating in rigorous general education courses that promote and preserve the constitutional republic through traditional, historically accurate, and high-quality coursework. Senate Bill 266 also amended section 1007.25, F.S. to require general education courses remain free of identity politics, distortion of historical events, and discriminatory content. More broadly, general education is intended to equip students with a strong foundation of knowledge, along with the skills and habits needed for effective, lifelong learning.
Been quite some time since I’ve been in school, but I’d like to know what got their panties in such a wad they felt they had to remove it from the curriculum.
While history has been subjective according to whoever is teaching, the evidence behind it is objective. Perhaps people should remember that before manipulating what is being taught.
Florida welcome to the free state of totalitarian.
The nice thing about the United States is that as separate states, one can live like CA or NY or even MN and their delusions or like UT, TX and FL. It is interesting to see, even in the legacy media which states are in the ten top and which are in the bottom. An example; in NYC, even the government can’t build a simple grocery store for less than $30 million, just for the building, less contents.
It was that DEI crap…it was promoting and perpetuating racism…there’s no place for that in the public education system…class dismissed! 🎓
Look at the US News scoreboard for ratings at New College and UF to see what the state GOP is doing to higher education here – ruining it while they politicize it.
This is not difficult and these idiots don’t care while they trash state assets built up over decades + and drive faculty elsewhere. If you’re among the best – and both New College and UF were – you want the best faculty, those with other options. They’re not coming here anymore and the best here are looking to leave.
I disagree …but, you should leave too Jazz if you don’t like it…
Get your C19 shot, put on your face mask, & go!
Disagreeing with the plain facts in front of your face is SOP for you (I’m pointing at the scoreboard – UF, New College, and our state university system is losing).
How absolutely absurd, but yet completely expected. Unfortunate that FL doesn’t want their students to have a well-rounded education.