math whizz

Ron DeSantis’ latest attempt at “protecting” kids becomes an instant embarrassment

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Between signing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law, attacking transgender student athletes and scolding kids for wearing masks, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is doing a bang up job at damaging young people’s lives.

His administration’s latest move to “protect” the youth, however, has become an instant laughing stock.

DeSantis voiced his support after 41% of Florida’s math textbooks were blocked for allegedly teaching “critical race theory.”

“Math is about getting the right answer. It’s not about how you feel about the problem or introducing some of these other things,” he said. “There’s a right answer and there’s a wrong answer.”

Florida state Rep. Carlos G. Smith was among those who criticized the move, calling for transparency as to how the administration deemed the books inappropriate.

DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw — the same person who said opponents of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill were “groomers” — offered these examples of objectionable math problems from Missouri, which last we checked was not in Florida:

It didn’t take long for the Internet to figure out that Pushaw’s example was total nonsense.

First off, the questions didn’t come from a textbook — they were part of an internet worksheet, as Rep. Smith noted:

Shortly after, someone found the actual worksheet the company had produced, showing it had been edited:

“Here’s the picture of the actual math work,” the commenter wrote. “The school district altered it to fit their narrative. And now the governor of Florida is using the doctored work to justify banning math books.”

Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani offered this sobering perspective:

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