Florida blasted for 'incredibly depressing and stupid' new policy of lying to children

Florida's government is taking heat for a new policy that reveals the ignorance of those in charge of the Sunshine State.

"Florida has become the latest state to ban critical race theory, continuing the growing charge by Republican lawmakers against schools teaching about systemic racism," CNN reported. "After hours of debate and public comment Thursday, the Florida State Board of Education unanimously approved the amendment banning critical race theory. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed much of the board, spoke ahead of the meeting, saying critical race theory would teach children 'the country is rotten and that our institutions are illegitimate.'"

Keith Schnakenberg, an assistant professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, posted one key part of the new rule.

The rule says teachers "may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence."

Well-known historian Kevin Kruse blasted the language.

"Teachers 'may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence' is nine kinds of nonsense, starting with the fact that the Declaration, uh, didn't create a new nation," Kruse reminded.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. America was not created until the Constitution was ratified by nine of the original thirteen states on June 21, 1788.

"Let's ignore that howler from these legislators who *really* know their facts. We're forbidden from defining American history as anything other than the *creation* of the new nation?" Kruse asked. "You're not allowed to teach anything besides the founding? There's a lot more, you know!"

"But let's back up a sec," he continued. "You're not allowed to suppress or distort the atrocities of the Holocaust, but if there's something akin to that in American history -- HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, OF COURSE -- you *have* to suppress and distort that? Because of reasons?"

"This is all so incredibly depressing and stupid, largely because the people trying to dictate and control the teaching of America history apparently never took a single damn class in the subject themselves," he noted.

Read Schnakenberg's full thread: