ORLANDO, Fla. — Nearly 6,000 pages of documents released by the Florida Department of Education shed new light on why 54 math textbooks were rejected.
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The agency said the books included lessons on critical race theory, as well as social and emotional learning.
More than one reviewer flagged the problem. It showed data comparing racial prejudice to political affiliation as the basis for a few math questions.
Follow-up questions in other textbooks asking students to reflect on their performance were struck down as being social and emotional learning.
There were choice comments about the material.
One reviewer flagged a textbook that stated global warming was a fact and did not introduce natural immunity as an alternative to a COVID-19 vaccine.
READ: State rejecting dozens of math books leaves 1 option for K-5 students
Another said a textbook’s use of the wage gap between men and women was bad for not promoting gender equality.
Textbook manufacturers have some time to update their books.
“They do it or they don’t do it. Regardless, the kids are going to come to school in August, whether we have books or not,” said Daniel Smith with the Seminole Education Association.
READ: Several Central Florida school districts may have to choose new math books for next year
As of Wednesday, the state added 19 of the 54 rejected books back onto the approved list.
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