<p>During a nationally televised appearance on MSNBC to criticize Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) educational policies, a Democratic lawmaker touted his credentials as a former teacher before saying the state’s “children are more smarter” than DeSantis believes. The statement was one of numerous grammatical and factual errors made by Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones (D) on “The ReidOut with Joy Reid” Thursday night as he condemned DeSantis&#8217; efforts to have the state’s public schools focus on the basics, like math and English.</p>
<p>“Let’s be extremely clear about something: As a former teacher, I want to make it clear that these children are more smarter [sic] than we think they are,” Jones said, as Reid nodded.</p>
<p>Jones claimed that DeSantis “is not dealing with the things that is [sic] more important, the kitchen table issues,” like “the up in rent that has taken place in South Florida,” apparently referring to rent increases. “But yet, and still, we’re dealing with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-is-critical-race-theory-breaking-down-the-ideology-thats-hitting-schools-across-the-country">Critical Race Theory</a> and <a href="https://therightswriter.com/2020/05/the-1619-projection-3-lies-pulitzer-should-not-reward/">The 1619 Project</a>, an issue <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/here-are-5-ways-the-media-is-trying-to-mislead-you-on-critical-race-theory">that is a non-issue</a>.” Jones did not discuss his own history as the primary sponsor of <a href="https://www.watchtheyard.com/alphas/alpha-phi-alpha-shevrin-jones/">legislation</a> to remove all Confederate statues and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-city-council-removes-confederate-street-paul-bois">erase the name of all Confederate soldiers</a> from public property statewide.</p>
<p>Reid, who has dedicated numerous segments over the past week to the Florida governor, invited Jones to critique DeSantis for removing CRT from the state’s curriculum and supporting a bill that would stop teachers from discussing sexually explicit material in the classroom. Jones opposed the bill, which would prevent elementary school teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender fluidity with children as young as 5.</p>
<p>“Basically, parents could sue if they believe a school’s procedures are infringing on their fundamental rights to make decisions about education,” Reid said, summarizing the bill. “How is that freedom?”</p>
<p>“Well, not freedom,” replied Jones, starting to call Ron DeSantis “president” before correcting himself. “President —Governor DeSantis, he calls this the free state of Florida, but it’s not the free state of Florida. The governor is trying to not just censor how you teach black history, but he is also trying to censor whether or not teachers can say the word ‘gay’ in our classroom.”</p>
<p>The bill in question (SB 1834) does not ban people from uttering the word “gay” in school, nor prevent children from having spontaneous conversations about any topic. The legislation <a href="https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_s1834__.DOCX&amp;DocumentType=Bill&amp;BillNumber=1834&amp;Session=2022">says</a> that a “school district may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels,” nor in a way that is not age-appropriate in public secondary schools.</p>
<p>The mere proposal proves “it is becoming dangerous every single day to live in the free state of Florida,” Jones said, as he bent his fingers into air quotes.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ShevrinJones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShevrinJones</a>: &quot;It is becoming dangerous every single day to live in the &#39;free state of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Florida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Florida</a>.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheReidOut?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheReidOut</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reiders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#reiders</a> <a href="https://t.co/4bWzlnCwWl">pic.twitter.com/4bWzlnCwWl</a></p>
<p>&mdash; The ReidOut (@thereidout) <a href="https://twitter.com/thereidout/status/1484327203517067277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Reid then <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-a-proposed-florida-law-doesnt-make-it-illegal-to-make-white-people-feel-discomfort-its-a-hit-piece-against-desantis">erroneously accused</a> DeSantis of backing a proposal that would make it illegal “to teach history that would make white people uncomfortable.” She asked Jones, “Does that law include saying you can’t make black people feel uncomfortable or indigenous people?”</p>
<p>Governor DeSantis’ office debunked Democratic charges that the bill would criminalize making white people feel discomfort on Wednesday morning. “The word ‘white’ (or any other race) is not even in the bill,” wrote the governor’s press secretary, Christina Pushaw. “The bill was introduced by a Hispanic lawmaker to prevent any kind of race essentialist indoctrination. But you wouldn’t know that if you rely on American Pravda,” her term for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/call-out-gop-extremism-brian-stelter-tells-associated-press">the Associated Press</a>, which has come under criticism for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ap-quotes-mayor-attacking-ron-desantis-doesnt-mention-hes-married-to-desantis-political-rival">numerous stories</a> about the potential 2024 Republican presidential contender.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The word “white” (or any other race) is not even in the bill. The bill was introduced by a Hispanic lawmaker to prevent any kind of race essentialist indoctrination. But you wouldn’t know that if you rely on American Pravda and its “kind” Tallahassee reporter for news. <a href="https://t.co/9FR4CLKS0D">https://t.co/9FR4CLKS0D</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristinaPushaw/status/1483792441148940292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p>The <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/148/BillText/Filed/PDF">text of the bill</a> states that no “individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin” as a result of mandatory sensitivity training or subject matter taught in businesses or public schools. Jones had <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-florida-lawsuits-ron-desantis-racial-injustice-3ec10492b7421543315acf4491813c1b">falsely told</a> the Associated Press on Tuesday, “This bill’s not for Blacks, this bill was not for any other race. This was directed to make whites not feel bad about what happened years ago.”</p>
<p>He also accused DeSantis of spouting “racist rhetoric.” An AP employee later approached the governor’s office for comment, stating, “I asked Sen. Jones if he thought Gov. DeSantis is racist. He said his policies are. Do you have a comment?”</p>
<p>“I just want to clarify – that you, without any context, asked a sitting State Senator if the Governor of Florida is a racist, while on the clock, being paid by the Associated Press?” replied Communications Director Taryn Fenske. The AP story originally claimed the governor’s office did not respond.</p>
<p>Jones made yet another grammatical <em>faux pas</em> during the segment as he apparently intended to accuse the governor of violating citizens’ constitutionally protected rights but forgot to use the word “not.” Jones charged Florida Republicans with “constitutionally protecting freedom of peacefully protesting … the freedom to succeed and access real economic opportunity.”</p>
<p>According to a <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Shevrin_Jones">biography</a> posted at Ballotpedia, Jones worked “as an AP Chemistry teacher with Broward County Public Schools and as the executive director of South Florida Reading Corps.”</p>
<p><em>The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire</em>.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

‘Children Are More Smarter’ Than Ron DeSantis’ Education Policies: Democratic Teacher-Turned-Senator

‘He Was A Live Donor’: For The First Time, We Have Proof Of China’s Organ Harvesting Operation

3 Times Liberals Condemned You For Their Sins

Everything You Need To Know About The Durham Probe

The Washington Post Says The World’s Second-Largest Church Supports Abortion. We Don’t. 

How Joe Biden Made Christian Persecution Even Worse

‘The Biden Administration Is A Loser’ In The 2022 Midterms: Democratic Strategist Offers Warning To His Party

News and Analysis

English

Florida

Joy Reid

MSNBC

Ron DeSantis

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News and Analysis —

‘Children Are More Smarter’ Than Ron DeSantis’ Education Policies: Democratic Teacher-Turned-Senator