Learning about communism is about to get underway in Florida schools. This week Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill passed by the Republican controlled Legislature.
Russia comes to mind when most people think about communism. Communism collapsed with the former Soviet Union. Russia’s government today is a Dictatorship…where the ruling person has full control of the state institutions and the entire society. Vladimir Putin controls the government of Russian…as a dictator.
Why would Governor DeSantis and his colleagues want to study communism if it’s gone? Particularly, when in our 2024 presidential election one of the candidates for President of the United has proclaimed he would be a “dictator on day one” taking office…that being Donald J. Trump.
And the Authoritarian form of government might fit for study. It is characterized by the rejection of democracy and political plurality. It involves the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo, reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting.
Florida’s civic literacy K-12 requirements include state standards in civics and government at all grade levels with specific emphasis in middle school and high school. A middle school course in civics in required in Florida and a high school American Government course is required for graduation. This is encouraging.
