Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made it one of his main priorities to reform education in the state of Florida and to reverse the tide of woke ideology that has washed over educational institutions across the country.
From the Parental Rights in Education Act to the Stop WOKE Act, the Governor has primarily focused on legislation while left-leaning administrators have pushed back against its implementation.
On Friday, the Governor decided to revive one of Florida’s struggling colleges by appointing a new Board of Trustees with a vision more aligned with his own.
"Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his plan to overhaul the ideological education system at New College of Florida (NCF) and restore its original mission"https://t.co/Mno4SRnN2R
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) January 6, 2023
The decision comes as DeSantis pledged to get educational institutions back on track to their mission of ‘academic excellence and the pursuit of truth’ during his inaugural speech.
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“Starting today, the ship is turning around,” DeSantis Press Secretary Bryan Griffin continued. “New College of Florida, under the Governor’s new appointees, will be refocused on its founding mission of providing a world-class quality education with an exceptional focus on the classics.”
“We must ensure that our institutions of higher learning are focused on academic excellence and the pursuit of truth.” @GovRonDeSantis
Starting today, the ship is turning around.https://t.co/5X0ye28pSX
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) January 6, 2023
Perhaps the most interesting decision DeSantis made in appointing a new Board of Trustees for the New College of Florida was to appoint high-profile culture warrior Christopher Rufo.
“I’m proud to announce that Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed me to the Board of Trustees of the New College of Florida,” Rufo tweeted.
“My ambition is to help the new board majority transform New College into a classical liberal arts institution. We are recapturing higher education.”
I'm proud to announce that Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed me to the Board of Trustees of the New College of Florida.
My ambition is to help the new board majority transform New College into a classical liberal arts institution.
We are recapturing higher education. pic.twitter.com/wu7OKRhzhM
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) January 6, 2023
Part of New College’s mission statement on its website includes a section that says they are working towards ‘eliminating outcome disparities’ for marginalized groups.
“We seek a balance between recognizing and celebrating difference, respectfully supporting each other’s growth, and ensuring that historically marginalized and oppressed groups are not experiencing trauma and harm,” reads the section. “New College values equity and is actively working toward eliminating outcome disparities for underrepresented and underserved groups.”
DeSantis Chief of Staff James Uthmeier said he’d like to turn New College into a classical liberal arts institution, much like Hillsdale College in Michigan.
“It is our hope that New College of Florida will become Florida’s classical college, more along the lines of a Hillsdale of the South,” He said.
“It is our hope that New College of Florida will become Florida’s classical college, more along the lines of a Hillsdale of the South,” James Uthmeier, Chief of Staff for DeSantis said. https://t.co/9Br9UYpKT5
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) January 6, 2023
Republican Party of Florida Vice Chair Christian Ziegler praised DeSantis for taking an important first step in reforming Florida’s educational institutions.
“Impossible to state just how bold and historical this action is,” he said in a statement. “It sets the tone that higher education can and will be reformed if conservative leaders are willing to step up, lead and act.”
Other stories you may want to read:
DeSantis Puts Universities on Notice Regarding Public Funds Spent on Critical Race Theory and DEI
‘Freedom Lives Here’ Gov. Ron DeSantis Inauguration Speech
