FL Gov. Ron DeSantis' law punishing student 'indoctrination' is a 'disgraceful' assault on academic

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

freedom

Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, signed a new bill into law on Tuesday that requires the state's public universities to survey faculty, students, and staff on their political beliefs to measure "viewpoint diversity" and fight student "indoctrination."

The Republican-passed law aims to determine "the extent to which competing ideas and perspectives are presented" in classrooms and whether students "feel free to express beliefs and viewpoints on campus and in the classroom," according to the bill's text. And it mandates that students "be shown diverse ideas and opinions, including those that they may disagree with or find uncomfortable."

It remains unclear how the state will use the information it gathers, but free speech scholars and advocates are concerned DeSantis and the legislature will retaliate against universities and their faculty for political reasons. The governor, who's built a national profile with his Trumpian politics, suggested on Wednesday that the state will cut funding for schools it deems "hotbeds for stale ideology."

First Amendment experts say the Florida law is unconstitutional and will do the opposite of what it purports to. Instead of promoting free speech, they fear it will both suppress certain viewpoints and undermine academic freedom, as well as force professors to waste time introducing discredited science and theories. And the effort comes amid DeSantis' broader crackdown on free speech, including Black Lives Matter protests and the teaching of critical race theory in public schools.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-gov-ron-desantis-law-punishing-student-indoctrination-is-a-disgraceful-assault-on-academic-freedom-free-speech-experts-warn/ar-AALtI5c

[SheltieLover]

1. Absolutely!

My 1st thought was academic freedom!

[leftieNanner]

2. Just imagine the damage he could do

From the Oval Office!

He's definitely going to run in 2024.

God help us if he wins.

[SheltieLover]

4. Oh no!

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Not to mention that students who are forced to reveal their political beliefs before

graduation, will see their job prospects decrease in this patronage supporting state.

[SheltieLover]

5. Absolutely!

[vlyons]

6. Refuse to take the survey

Publicly tear it up.

[leftieNanner]

7. Students might get away with not taking it

But I'm guessing professors and other educators and staff might not be able to.

I'm sure DeSantis would find a way to fire them.

[stillcool]

8. universities. huh...

why not start with kindergarten?

[EndlessWire]

9. Wow.

Another GOP assault on freedom of speech. Isn't one of the first things fascists do is an assault on newspapers, journalists. etc.? This seems like part of that.

Young people are clever. They'll get around it. But, man, it is disappointing that actual elected adults waste their tax payer time making this stuff up. A few steps away from total control of curriculum.

FREEDOM!!