A group of parents in Florida is denouncing the use in schools of a personal finance textbook containing Bible verses as an attempt to indoctrinate their children with conservative Christianity.
Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, also a 2024 presidential candidate, has repeatedly denounced in recent years what he sees as indoctrination in education, vowing that he “will not let the agenda wake up.” far left to take over our schools.
The Sunshine State has rejected school materials it says “indoctrinates students.” The state also banned the mention of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms, while limiting teaching about race and the country’s history of institutional racism.
Eight Pasco County residents are now objecting to the promotion of speech from the other end of the political spectrum, attacking the inclusion of Christian financial guru and conservative radio personality Dave Ramsey. Personal Finance Fundamentals textbook in the school curriculum, according to an article published Friday by Tampa Bay Times.
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The Pasco County School Board would hear objections to the book at a hearing next month. Parents will urge authorities to reconsider the text because of the inclusion of Bible verses, as well as issues such as promoting conservative fiscal values and allegedly “shaming” poor children.
“I object to the teaching of this material as well as biblical quotes and rhetoric written by the author, who is also a well-known right-wing media spokesperson,” parent Mark Young reportedly wrote in a petition asking the school district to reconsider the use of the book.
“Bible verses have no place in public schools,” added parent Brian Kelley. “And Dave Ramsey is not qualified to provide (teaching) in a secular classroom.”
News week Ramsey’s company, Ramsey Solutions, contacted Ramsey’s company for comment on Friday.
Ramsey’s judgment on providing financial advice has been questioned for reasons other than religious and political. He was sued for $150 million in June by a group of listeners to his radio show who allege they were defrauded by a company Ramsey advertised, which touted an opportunity to “get out” of expensive contract contracts. timeshare.
Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin said Tampa Bay Times that she “had no worries” Personal Finance Fundamentals used by the school district, rejecting the notion of text containing inappropriate bias.
Lea Mitchell, the district’s director of leadership and learning, also reportedly dismissed the complaints, pointing out that the book contained quotes from historical figures like Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin in addition to biblical passages.
At least one parent compared the textbook’s inclusion to more controversial video lessons produced by the right-wing content creation organization PragerU, which opposes what it calls “woke curriculum infiltrating classrooms.” .
Florida recently approved PragerU lessons for use in classrooms. However, Pasco County discourages schools from using these courses.
Dennis Prager, a conservative radio host who founded PragerU, admitted this summer at a conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that the group effectively aimed to “indoctrinate children,” while insisting that its form of “Indoctrination” was not “bad.”
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