In a segment titled “Yes, Florida teachers could face third-degree felony for using books, literature in classroom not approved by state“, First Coast News reached out to Florida’s Department of Education (DOE) to clarify the conditions under which a teacher (or ANY ADULT) could be charged with a felony. Here is the summary from their reporting.
The DOE sent the following response:
“Any adult, not just a teacher, who knowingly provides a minor obscene material described in section 847.012(3), Florida Statues, could be prosecuted for a third-degree felony. This law is not new nor is it specific to library media materials. See section 847.012(5).”
The statute 847.012 says distribution of pornography is punishable as a third-degree felony, but it also covers age-appropriate classroom material, which for 3rd grade and younger also forbids subjects of racial issues and sexual orientation.
Duval County schools has shared the following with its teachers:
Under new Florida law, all books in elementary school libraries (including classroom collections for independent reading) must be reviewed by a certified media specialist. State training on these new laws requires that books be free from:
Source: First Coast News
- Pornography – defined in the Merriam Webster dictionary as “the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement.”
- Instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades kindergarten through three.
- Discrimination in such a way that “an individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin is inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.