Joining him was Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas<\/a>, who used the press conference to rally against \u201cpunitive\u201d taxes on the wealthy, free child care, rent freezes and government-run grocery stores, which he argued all push the communist agenda \u201cin a way that people are bamboozled.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy grandmother tells me she saw very similar policies being put forth in Cuba before Castro took over,\u201d said Kamoutsas, who is Greek and Cuban. \u201cIt\u2019s important as you learn about the history of communism that you think critically, you think through these policies and think, who\u2019s going to pay for this?\u201d<\/p>\n During the DeSantis administration, the state set Nov. 7 as Victims of Communism Day<\/a>, where students spend 45 minutes of their school day learning more about the history.<\/p>\n In 2024, the state passed legislation<\/a> spearheaded by then-Sen. Jay Collins<\/a>, now the state\u2019s Lieutenant Governor, that requires schoolchildren to learn about the history of communism starting in the 2026-27 year.<\/p>\n Democrats argued that the new requirements were troubling since the state should be more focused on helping students succeed in core subjects. <\/p>\n Kamoutsas complained about critics, including the media<\/a>, during his remarks Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stand firm in what they represent and what our students are going to be able to be taught,\u201d Kamoutsas said. \u201cWhen students comprehend the horrors of communism, they are inspired to appreciate and defend our freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of recent legislation, the newly established Institute for Freedom in the Americas<\/a> at Miami Dade College<\/a> will partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom<\/a> at Florida International University<\/a> to promote economic and individual freedoms.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/728X90_Campus-Safety-1.jpg\")
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