Commentary: Florida's education commissioner just fired free thought

On Oct. 30, Florida’s Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas unilaterally removed Professor Philip Wiseley from a statewide committee on sociology instruction. Wiseley teaches sociology at Florida SouthWestern State College and may face further disciplinary action, including termination, at Kamoutsas’ encouragement. Wiseley was accused of teaching “gender ideology” in violation of SB 266, a law that excludes courses with “unproven, speculative, or exploratory content” from the general education curriculum. Wiseley’s case suggests that the state is escalating its attacks on the independence of public colleges and universities and is beginning to impose a state-dictated curriculum in an attempt to restrict free inquiry.

As sociology professors at Florida International University, we