Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, alongside members of Moms for Liberty, a group labeled as anti-government extremists by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and including co-founder Tina Descovich, held a press conference on Thursday morning to support the state’s strict educational policies.
Education Not Indoctrination
DeSantis, who didn’t succeed in the 2024 presidential race, stated, “Parents in Florida have a right to send their kids to school knowing that they’re going to be educated but not indoctrinated,” emphasizing his administration’s dedication to protecting educational content.
Media Bias in Educational Advocacy?
Tina Descovich, sharing the governor’s views, criticized the media for overly focusing on the group’s advocacy for book bans, arguing that it overshadows the main issue of improving literacy.
Unexpected Query
During the press conference, a light-hearted yet telling moment unfolded when Gov. DeSantis was humorously questioned about his personal appearance.
A Laughing Matter?
A reporter asked, “Governor DeSantis, you have spoken out against the ‘woke ‘agenda of gender fluidity and also come out against gender-affirming care. So I was hoping you could square your opposition to [gender affirming care] and people choosing their own gender identity with your frequent wearing of lifts and you hoping to choose your own height identity.”
‘Nice try’
The question, which elicited laughter from the audience, was quickly brushed off by DeSantis with a brief, ‘Nice try, next!’ accompanied by an awkward head movement that critics interpret as a sign of his discomfort.
Press Conference Video Goes Viral
This exchange gained widespread attention when podcast host Thomas Kennedy shared a video of the presser, noting that the question was posed by Corey Hill.
DeSantis Laughed
“My friend @NewsCHill just asked DeSantis how he can square his opposition to gender affirming care and people identifying with the gender of their choosing with his choice to wear heels to identify with the height of his choosing and the whole room laughed at DeSantis,” Kennedy wrote.
Miami-Dade’s Permission Slip
The tone of the discussion shifted towards another topic when the focus moved to a contentious permission slip distributed by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. This slip, sent home with students, required parents to consent for their children to listen to a book reading by an African American author.
Black Author Reading
The form explicitly asked for parental permission for students to hear a book read aloud by a Black author, sparking a debate over the need for such authorization.
Black History in Schools
Manny Diaz, the state’s education commissioner, responded to a query about the slip, stating, “African-American history is required instruction. Black History Month is required instruction. There’s no permission slip required for required instruction.”
VP Targets Florida’s Education System
During a fiery speech last year at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the curriculum updates approved by the Florida State Board of Education.
Slavery Curriculum View
Harris’ visit was a response to the revelation that Florida’s middle school curriculum would include a controversial view of slavery, implying benefits for some enslaved individuals.
She vehemently expressed that undermining education is unacceptable, emphasizing the significant role teachers play in shaping students.
Shaping Future Leaders
“I am a product of teachers and an educational system that believed in providing the children with the full expanse of information that allowed them (and encouraged them) to then reach their own conclusions and exercise critical thought in a way that was directly intended to nurture their leadership,” Harris stated.
Patriotism in Modern America
Vice President Kamala Harris, in her speech, emphasized the essence of patriotism, stating, “Part of true patriotism means fighting for a nation that will be better for each generation to come.”
Earned Respect
She also touched upon the international reputation of American leaders, noting their respect is earned, not given. “When you’re a role model, people watch what you do to see if it matches what you say,” she remarked.
‘Are you kidding me?’
Harris, in July, criticized the Republican narrative on American history, especially the Florida educational standards that suggest benefits of slavery for the enslaved.
“To debate whether enslaved people benefited from slavery — are you kidding me?” she expressed.
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