Imagine being passionate about an opportunity but finding out that it’s no longer available for you. A field or profession you wish to dive into as a student, but the options are limited. A class that fascinates you, however, your chance to explore it is taken away.
Unfortunately, this situation has become a reality in Florida, where students no longer have the option to take AP Psychology in high school. This is a result of Florida’s state education board voting to place a ban on teaching sexual orientation and gender identity related topics from K-12.
With the development unit of AP Psychology including two minor topics related to gender and sexuality, the course has been effectively banned in the state.
The College Board said that Florida will permit districts to teach the course only if it excludes any mention of these essential topics, but if certain topics are taken out of the curriculum, AP Psychology can no longer be termed as AP. Even though schools have been granted permission to teach the class by Florida’s Education Board, the law has not been modified or updated in any way. Therefore, the College Board advises not to teach the course.
“Gender ideology has no place in our K-12 school system. It’s wrong for a teacher to tell a student that they may have been born in the wrong body or that their gender is a choice, so we don’t let that happen in Florida,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said.
However, when raising such concerns about specific topics and creating a law, it’s essential to consider how those topics are taught within a specific course and what value the entire course holds in today’s world.
First of all, there is a clear disconnect between how gender and sexuality topics are taught in AP psychology versus what Governor DeSantis perceives it to be.
The topics shouldn’t be termed as inappropriate and how they are taught should be the deciding factor. There is a clear difference between manipulation- telling students they are born the wrong way- and giving education based on research and scientific proof to understand how decisions are made and how the brain develops.
The American Psychological Association states that their National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula are developed through a rigorous process where high school teachers and college educators are consulted and supported by a National Standards Advisory Panel consisting of scientists as well as two K–12 science experts. Scientific inquiry and research methods are the base for every unit within the course.
The American Psychological Association believes that while the two banned AP Psychology topics may seem minor, they are still crucial for students to understand when taking the course.
“There is robust scientific literature on gender identity and sexual orientation. Excluding this content not only deprives students of an understanding of the breadth of psychological science, it prevents them from understanding human development and identity,” the American Psychological Association said.
Furthermore, AP Psychology teacher Brad Edmundson believes that psychology holds great value as it can be applied anywhere.
“To me, psychology is one of the most important fields out there because it influences everything. There’s not a profession out there that isn’t impacted by psychology. So, if they’re not able to take it because of whatever reason, they’re missing out on an opportunity that is very influential and very important in all kinds of fields,” Edmundson said.
Senior Nivi Varanasi was provided with a deeper understanding of herself and given tools for personal development through her AP psychology class.
“AP Psychology is a really, really good course to understand yourself, and how you can improve your life, the way you do things, and the way other people do things. It’s just helped me learn things on a more personal level but with a very broad view. What I learned from that class has helped me be better in my other classes, and be more productive and efficient in general,” Varanasi said.
According to The College Board, over 28,000 students in Florida took AP Psychology in the 2022-23 school year. So many students are missing out on the chance to earn college credit and take this illuminating course.
AP Psychology is a worthwhile course that can benefit students in various fields, aid in personality development, and enhance their understanding of the world around them. The fact that the course has been effectively banned in Florida is a significant loss of opportunity for students.