“This bill is neither clear nor specific.” “When I write my lesson plans as per the Florida Department of Education, they must be clear and specific,” said Myndee Washington, a Pasco County teacher who testified at Tuesday’s Senate committee hearing. However, critics have argued that whatever the intentions of its authors, the bills’ language is vague. In an interview Monday, Baxley noted the bill singles out “primary grade levels” - instruction for young kids. Children and students ask a lot of questions.” “Conversations are going to happen,” Harding said at a House committee meeting in January where lawmakers voted to move the bill forward. Joe Harding, R-Williston, say the measure is meant to stop schools from creating curricula geared toward educating young children about gender or sexual orientation before they are mature enough to handle it.Ĭlassroom presentations, school clubs and other less formal discussions between students and teachers involving gender or sexuality would be allowed under the bill, they say. This is by far the major sticking point in the legislation. What does it mean for a district to not “encourage classroom discussion” about gender identity?
As of Tuesday, the bills had cleared one committee in the House and one in the Senate.
