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Florida Rejects Math Textbooks, Citing ‘Prohibited Topics’

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Florida Rejects Math Textbooks, Citing ‘Prohibited Topics’

Florida has rejected 42 of 132 math textbooks proposed to be used in public college lecture rooms as a result of they “incorporate prohibited subjects or unsolicited methods” together with social-emotional studying and significant race idea, in response to the state’s Division of Schooling.

The state, which introduced its resolution on Friday afternoon, didn’t share data on the particular content material to which it was objecting, and a number of other publishers advised The New York Occasions that they had not but acquired paperwork detailing the state’s critiques.

However Florida has a brand new regulation, which works into impact in July, limiting the best way that sexual orientation, gender identification and social-emotional abilities are taught. Gov. Ron DeSantis can be anticipated to signal laws, often known as the “Cease W.O.Okay.E. Act,” prohibiting instruction that would immediate college students to really feel discomfort a couple of historic occasion due to their race, intercourse or nationwide origin.

At a Monday information convention, Mr. DeSantis highlighted the presence of “social and emotional studying” materials within the rejected elementary textbooks. “Math is about getting the best reply,” he stated. “And we wish children to study to suppose so that they get the best reply. It’s not about how you are feeling about the issue.”

A overview of pattern content material from one writer whose elementary textbooks seem to have been rejected, Large Concepts Studying, confirmed classes supposed to construct self-awareness, self-management, accountable decision-making and social consciousness and relationship abilities.

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That framework of 5 abilities is a well-liked one in faculties throughout the nation, and was developed by CASEL, an training nonprofit.

In a single textual content, cartoon animals assist construct each other’s confidence with the intention to cross a wobbly bridge. In one other, a cartoon canine film star says she feels lonely, and different animals provide to befriend her.

An extra 12 books have been rejected by the Florida Division of Schooling as a result of they didn’t align with the state’s new educational requirements in different methods. Florida is one in every of a handful of states that search to keep away from supplies related to the Frequent Core, a nationwide effort to standardize curriculum expectations in math and literacy.

Nationwide, fewer than half of states undertake textbooks on the state stage. Amongst people who do, Florida, California and Texas are the most important markets. It’s typical for publishers to adapt their supplies particularly for these states, generally modifying texts in response to critiques from state reviewers.

In recent times, for instance, California textbooks have delved into the historical past of homosexual, lesbian and transgender Individuals — materials that’s not sometimes included within the textbooks of extra conservative states. Texas books usually tend to emphasize the advantages of the free market and entrepreneurship.

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Traditionally, textbooks in Texas and Florida are sometimes just like each other.

Florida’s new curriculum legal guidelines and rules, limiting the best way race, gender, sexual orientation and social-emotional wellness are taught, may require publishers to redraft books, from the historic tales they inform to the examples utilized in math phrase issues.

Patricia Mazzei and Stephanie Saul contributed reporting.

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Education

Four Fraternity Members Charged After a Pledge Is Set on Fire

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Four Fraternity Members Charged After a Pledge Is Set on Fire

Four fraternity members at San Diego State University are facing felony charges after a pledge was set on fire during a skit at a party last year, leaving him hospitalized for weeks with third-degree burns, prosecutors said Monday.

The fire happened on Feb. 17, 2024, when the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity held a large party at its house, despite being on probation, court documents show. While under probation, the fraternity was required to “demonstrate exemplary compliance with university policies,” according to the college’s guidelines.

Instead, prosecutors said, the fraternity members planned a skit during which a pledge would be set on fire.

After drinking alcohol in the presence of the fraternity president, Caden Cooper, 22, the three younger men — Christopher Serrano, 20, and Lars Larsen, 19, both pledges, and Lucas Cowling, 20 — then performed the skit, prosecutors said.

Mr. Larsen was set on fire and wounded, prosecutors said, forcing him to spend weeks in the hospital for treatment of third-degree burns covering 16 percent of his body, mostly on his legs.

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The charges against Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cowling and Mr. Serrano include recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury; conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public; and violating the social host ordinance. If convicted of all the charges, they would face a sentence of probation up to seven years, two months in prison.

Mr. Larsen himself was charged. The San Diego County District Attorney’s office said that he, as well as Mr. Cooper and Mr. Cowling, also tried to lie to investigators in the case, deleted evidence on social media, and told other fraternity members to destroy evidence and not speak to anyone about what happened at the party.

All four men have pleaded not guilty.

Lawyers representing Mr. Cooper and Mr. Cowling did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment on Tuesday. Contact information for lawyers for Mr. Serrano and Mr. Larsen was not immediately available.

The four students were released on Monday, but the court ordered them not to participate in any fraternity parties, not to participate in any recruitment events for the fraternity, and to obey all laws, including those related to alcohol consumption.

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The university said Tuesday that it would begin its own administrative investigation into the conduct of the students and the fraternity, now that the police investigation was complete.

After it confirmed the details, the dean of students office immediately put the Phi Kappa Psi chapter on interim suspension, which remains in effect, college officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Additional action was taken, but the office said it could not reveal specifics because of student privacy laws.

“The university prioritizes the health and safety of our campus community,” college officials said in a statement, “and has high expectations for how all members of the university community, including students, behave in the interest of individual and community safety and well-being.”

At least half a dozen fraternities at San Diego State University have been put on probation in the last two years, officials said.

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Video: Several Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Including Juvenile Suspect

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Video: Several Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Including Juvenile Suspect

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Several Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Including Juvenile Suspect

The police responded to a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wis., on Monday.

Around 10:57 a.m., our officers were responding to a call of an active shooter at the Abundant Life Christian School here in Madison. When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers located a juvenile who they believe was responsible for this deceased in the building. I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas. Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. These types of trauma don’t just go away.

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Video: Biden Apologizes for U.S. Mistreatment of Native American Children

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Video: Biden Apologizes for U.S. Mistreatment of Native American Children

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Biden Apologizes for U.S. Mistreatment of Native American Children

President Biden offered a formal apology on Friday on behalf of the U.S. government for the abuse of Native American children from the early 1800s to the late 1960s.

The Federal government has never, never formally apologized for what happened until today. I formally apologize. It’s long, long, long overdue. Quite frankly, there’s no excuse that this apology took 50 years to make. I know no apology can or will make up for what was lost during the darkness of the federal boarding school policy. But today, we’re finally moving forward into the light.

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