A wave of restrictions on readings and educational content in its public schools borders on the unheard-of and irrational in Florida.

Washington, August 12 (RHC) The cultural battle is now apparently the latest contest in conservative states in the United States, with Florida as its epicenter and William Shakespeare as the penultimate victim.

A wave of restrictions on readings and educational content in its public schools borders on the unheard-of and irrational in the so-called Sunshine State.

"Too much sex," they argue, for example, in order to censor parts of a classic of universal literature, Romeo and Juliet (1597), whose author is the celebrated English writer, poet, and playwright.

Facing the new school year, teachers there will have to tiptoe around when teaching literature classes and can only teach passages exempt from sexual or racial content.

A similar veto fell on the tragedy Hamlet (1603) by Shakespeare, who, four centuries after his birth, is considered the most important English author of all time.

These absurd rules are protected by the Parental Rights in Education Act, better known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, enacted by the current governor and presidential candidate of the United States, Ron DeSantis, in March 2022.

Initially, this legislation prohibited the distribution of content on gender identity to children under eight years old, but subsequent amendments extended it to eighth-grade children (13-14 years old).

The law also stipulates that a parent can sue teachers who fail to comply with these provisions, which has led to multiple complaints against teachers for allegedly teaching inappropriate content.

Local media reported the case of a school principal in the city of Tallahassee who was fired for showing Michelangelo's David in the texts.

Parents complained about the explicit "obscenities" in the famous marble work erected between 1501-1504 by the Italian Renaissance genius, one of the greatest artists in history, known for his sculptures, paintings, and architectural works.

The American Library Association (ALA) revealed that last year, the country received over twice as many requests for book censorship as in 2021.

It is estimated that around 2,500 titles were targeted in 2022, a new record since the American Library Association began gathering this information two decades ago.

The organization stated that nearly 60 percent of the complaints were against libraries and curricula. (Source: PL)