The breaking news article declaring the limited curriculum of the AP African American Studies Class caught some SLOHS students by surprise even though SLOHS currently does not offer it. Photo courtesy by The New York Times.

 Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes may have heard about the piloting of a new AP class focused on African American studies. When the curriculum overview was published numerous educators were concerned to see many people that were crucial in the changes of the African American community were removed from the education system due to political controversy. 

  Governor of Florida Ron Desantis spoke out that the exam was politically biased and threatened to ban the course in Florida if the College Board didn’t make a change to the curriculum. In addition to the possibility of Florida not teaching the class, the state also had something to say.

  “It is not historically accurate and violates state law that regulates how race-related issues are taught in public schools,” Said Desantis.

   Educators are concerned about the involvement of the government in situations like this one. Florida’s actions may seem extreme but California can also choose what students are taught in public schools. With the government able to limit what educators can teach about, it threatens students’ ability to be properly educated. 

  “I would say that anytime we limit what students are exposed to we are, in a sense, limiting their education. Now the question is not so much of should we expose them to everything or should we expose them to nothing, It’s where do we draw the line? With this particular class, I think there is certainly value in exposing students to these topics.” said AP United States History teacher Seamus Perry. 

  As a result of important information being removed it brought up the concern if as a society people are uncomfortable with dealing with controversial or challenging topics.

  “The reality is what we consider controversial and what we consider non-controversial changes over time. You know, history is a discussion about all these things and so I think it is a potential issue. Today, we’re able to have a little bit of distance from issues and kind of assess it with a bit more detachment.” said Perry.

  The class is currently being piloted in sixty classes until twenty-twenty four when it will be finalized as an official class. 

Sources: Collegeboard.org Newyorktimes.com