Wes Wolfe
Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz said he knows indoctrination in schools when he sees it, and that’s not happening here. He spoke in a Democratic Party response to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appearance at the Moms for Liberty summit in Tampa.
Diaz recounted how his family had to leave Cuba, when the island’s children became virtual wards of the state and subject to lessons meant to “instill in Cuban children a sense of honor and loyalty for the Revolutionary Armed Forces,” he said.
“They banned books, they rewrote history and indoctrinated children in the communist works. This practice continues today in Cuba, as it does in Russia and other communist and authoritarian regimes.”
Where the focus should be, he said, is on what makes students successful.
“Let us focus our attention on excellence and accountability, and increasing student achievement in math, reading and writing, and never lose sight of that,” Diaz said.
Bringing a more pointed argument was Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins, who unseated Moms for Liberty cofounder Tina Descovich. She described how she sees the movement behind the organization.
“I ran for School Board because I’m invested in public education,” Jenkins said. “I’m an educator myself. My husband is a teacher. I have a young daughter who just finished kindergarten. When I was sworn into office, I agreed to serve all of my community, even those who opposed me.
“What I never imagined was a battle. Protests at my home, vandalism of my property, being followed by private investigators, harassed by a state Representative, and receiving death threats.”
She said there’s no question how Florida society ended up in this situation, saying the only reason Moms for Liberty exists is because its founders were voted out of office by a majority of voters. The group, Jenkins said, “serves as a tool of distraction” for the DeSantis administration as it otherwise dismantles the state’s public schools.
“Right now, our Governor is bragging about what he portrays as his achievements in education,” Jenkins said. “Meanwhile, there are over 9,000 instructional vacancies across the state of Florida, with less than 30 days before the start of school.
“We hear boasting about his historic funding for education, but that historic funding still ranks Florida — the fourth-largest economy in the United States — at just 43rd in the nation in education funding.”
The Florida Democratic Party is holding its Leadership Blue Weekend at the same hotel as Moms for Liberty, though in a different building across the street.
6 comments
Joe Corsin
July 15, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Vote RED for conservatism for the masses but lavish spending for the rich.
Vote RED for levels of wealth and income inequality the likes of which the world has never seen
Vote RED for domestic terrorism to eliminate government so that the GOP grifters can institute low wage slavery forever
Vote RED for evil plutocracy in the name of God.
Tom
July 15, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Of course they do, FP and other media will comply. They will fail.
Florida has best schools, public voucher system. Schools stayed open during Covid per Gov Ron. FEA sued, Gov won, parents won, kids won. No kids suicide, society wins.
PeterH
July 15, 2022 at 10:26 pm
1. Fox News Orlando reported on July 5, 2022 that Florida schools were short an astounding 9,000 teachers. Prior articles indicated that schools were short an additional 2,000 Maintenence and support staff.
2. Recent reports indicated that over half of Florida’s third graders can’t read.
3. Perhaps DeSantis could stay laser focused on telling teachers what the can and cannot say in Florida’s schools ….. after all those type of dictates worked so well in Venezuela and Cuba.
4. Private schools have waiting list. Don’t pull your child out of public school and thinking you’ll have voucher options in a private school.
5. Twenty years of failed Florida Republican leadership is taking its toll on Florida’s families and businesses. Here in South Florida hundreds of businesses are closed BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND WORKERS.
6. Vote Republicans out of office. The GQP needs to be destroyed before it can be rebuilt from the ground up.
Tom
July 16, 2022 at 8:22 am
As usual total lies from peter h.
Just a ignorant left wing extremist.
He participates in a corrupt predator Lincoln Org.
Florida:
Best voucher school system in America.
Identified as one of the best state school systems in America.
Dems have driven people out of the work place, DeSantis rebuilding school system.
America’s Governor and legislature passed, approved two raises, two bonuses for educators. Majority educators support Gov.
School parents approve and support his effort to protect, cleanse K -3 students.
Separating kids on gender in athletic competition.
Support his emphasis on teaching, educating not indoctrinating.
Saved kids and parents from suicides, mental health keeping schools open. Parents worked.
He and First Lady have promoted mental health safety, with programs.
Peter h you are corrupt extremist.
Full of hate with destruction in your brain.
America’s Gov saved Schools, Florida and society.
Go yo hell peter h.
Elliott Offen
July 16, 2022 at 9:32 am
Vote RED for wealth and income inequality the likes of which the world has never seen.
Vote RED for a culture of greed, racism, incivility, and mind bending politicized religion.
Vote RED for low wage exploitation and capitalist scams
Vote RED for domestic terrorism to eliminate government so that hogs can grift Americans into slavery.
Vote RED for ancient Roman plutocracy all in the name of God!
YYep
July 16, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Seriously learn to live without the stores
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