Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has invited Vice President Kamala Harris to Florida to discuss recent changes made to the standards for teaching Black history.
In a letter posted on X, formally known as Twitter, DeSantis’ press secretary Jeremy Redfern said, “It’s past time to set the record straight.”
DeSantis said Florida changed its curriculum to focus “on the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic, science, civics and history” and said that Harris’ comments about “extremists” was made to “score cheap political points.”
The new Florida academic standards guiding schools’ instruction about Black history ignited a heated debate nationally, bringing Vice President Kamala Harris to Florida in July to condemn the guidelines and prompting a defense from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Backlash over the standards centers largely on the part of the middle-school curriculum.
In the news: Trump Holds Commanding Lead Over DeSantis Among Republicans, Despite Legal Troubles
The standards include a provision that requires instruction to include “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
Related News: State GOP Lashes Out At VP Kamala Harris, Saying Trip To Florida Just Another Political Stunt
The standards, designed to guide lessons from kindergarten through high-school grades, cover a wide range of topics.
For example, early-grade standards require items such as students identifying African American inventors and explorers, artists, and people who demonstrated civil service.
After the standards were approved, Harris joined numerous Black leaders throughout the country in criticizing state officials for signing off on the curriculum changes.
“These extremist so-called leaders should model what we know to be the correct and right approach, if we really are invested in the wellbeing of our children. Instead, they dare to push propaganda to our children. This is the United States of America. We’re not supposed to do that,” Harris said during an appearance in Jacksonville Friday afternoon. “It is a reasonable expectation that our children will not be misled and that’s what’s so outrageous, happening right now.”
Related News: Florida Black History Standards Approved Amid Criticism
The governor, who frequently clashes with the White House over a range of issues as he pursues a 2024 presidential bid, pushed back on Harris’ statements in a statement released by DeSantis’ campaign Friday.
“Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida’s educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children. Florida stands in their way and we will continue to expose their agenda and their lies,” DeSantis said.
State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. defended the standards prior to their approval Wednesday, and Paul Burns, chancellor of the Department of Education’s Division of K-12 Public Schools, accused critics of “peddling really a false narrative” about the guidelines.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.