On Friday, Ken Miller, a professor emeritus of biology at Brown University and co-author of several popular biology textbooks, revealed that certain references to “climate change” had been omitted from his educational materials used in Florida public schools. According to Miller, his publisher received directives from state officials last month to make these alterations, resulting in the removal of specific mentions of “climate change” from middle school science books. This decision also affected a high school chemistry textbook, which was required to eliminate a 90-page section dedicated to the topic.
Miller explained that for states like Florida and Texas, special editions of textbooks are crafted to align closely with their unique science standards. The updated Florida edition, which was submitted in 2023 and is being evaluated for adoption in the upcoming 2024-25 school year, has undergone scrutiny from school districts in the state.
Another author, speaking anonymously, corroborated Miller’s account, stating that state officials enforced the removal of “extraneous information” not included in state standards, with specific instructions to eliminate phrases such as “climate change.” In a similar vein, Miller’s high school biology textbook was mandated to include citations supporting claims about the role of “human activity” in driving climate change, while concurrently removing a “political statement” advocating legislative action to address the issue.
The contentious nature of climate change is further exacerbated by political divisions, with certain factions within the GOP contesting its validity and resisting legislative measures to mitigate its impact, such as incentivizing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation (HB 1645) eliminating the phrase “climate change” from several Florida laws, signaling a shift away from prioritizing action on this issue.
Although this legislation does not directly impact state education and science standards, it still reflects a stance that prioritizes the cost-effective development and utilization of domestic energy resources in the state. In light of these developments, Newsweek reached out to DeSantis’ press office and the Florida Department of Education for clarification and comment.
Governor DeSantis has faced criticism from liberal activists for various incidents of book banning and censorship in Florida’s public schools, with data indicating a high number of ban cases across multiple school districts. The governor’s office has countered these claims, stating that the state does not engage in book banning, but instead empowers parents to object to objectionable material in the classroom.