Tallahassee, Fla.– Pride and Prejudice is to American Pride as Fish is to a Bicycle. Florida Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz Jr., has come under fire for his recent selection of books intended to celebrate American Pride Month. In a move that has sparked widespread confusion and criticism, Diaz included Jane Austen’s classic British novel “Pride and Prejudice” in the recommended reading list for Florida’s students.
The Commissioner’s Book of the Month program, which aims to promote literacy and engage preK-12 students with themed reading material, selected five books for July, each meant to highlight the importance of American pride and the country’s founding values. However, the inclusion of “Pride and Prejudice” has left many questioning the criteria and decision-making process behind these recommendations.
In a statement released with the reading list, Diaz said, “As we look back upon our nation’s history and recognize the efforts of the founding fathers to build a country based on the values of freedom, it is paramount that we impart a sense of American pride on our students during the month of July.” He encouraged students to “celebrate American pride month and reflect on the unyielding spirit and heroic patriotism of the many Americans throughout history who fought in the pursuit of liberty and freedom.”
