Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin officially set up a “tip line” to give his conservative constituents the opportunity to rat out educators who have the nerve to teach actual American history in all of its dark, racist, and brutal past.
This goes along smoothly with the executive order he signed banning the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in Virginia schools.
Youngkin claims CRT is “indoctrination” with “inherently divisive concepts” that “instruct students to only view life through the lens of race and presumes that some students are consciously or unconsciously racist, sexist, or oppressive and that other students are victims.”
When asked about new his tip line Monday, Youngkin told conservative radio host John Fredericks, “We’re asking for folks to send us reports and observations that they have that will help us be aware of things like privilege bingo, be aware of their child being denied their rights that parents have in Virginia. And we’re going to make sure we catalog it all.”
“Catalog it?” Sounds a lot like fascism to me. Not to mention the fact that most Black and brown folks believe that not enough of our history has been taught in most schools.
But when it comes to the anti-CRT movement, many Black parents in Virginia have been on the front lines fighting, screaming into the void about education in the state, better access to programs, and about racial disparities in general.
“We’ve been ringing the alarm for months,” Monica Hutchinson, a parent of two Black children at Hermitage High School in Henrico County, part of the Richmond metro area, tells Daily Kos. She says she’s outraged by Youngin’s attacks on education, but not shocked.
“They’re using CRT to attack equity, diversity, and inclusion programs in our schools. And the more power BIPOC parents gain, the harder the pushback,” she says. “We’re still having discussions about more diversity in our teaching staff and our administration.”
When it comes to the topic of American history, which includes the subject of enslaved people and systemic racism, by the way, Hutchinson, who’s attended the recent explosive school board meetings, says “no one is trying to make your child feel bad. But, how do you think our children feel when you refuse to address the past and they’re forced to relive that trauma?” Hutchinson says she doesn’t think it’s even about white kids feeling bad; it’s about them coming home after learning about the history of white Americans and looking at their parents and grandparents and wondering where they stood in times of segregation. “It’s all about denying the truth,” she says, adding: “They talk about the rights of students, but, the rights of which students? And when they talk about how CRT will teach Black kids to be victims, I say it will not. It will teach them that after all of the barriers they’ve had, they’ve made it. They’re survivors.”
Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who is also the chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee, tells Daily Kos that what the Virginia administration wants to do with education will require changes to existing law. “They will meet a brick wall in the Senate when they seek those changes,” Lucas said.
She added that Black parents have seen this level of racism in their state before. “What I hear from people is ‘Not this time. We are not going backward,” Lucas said.
When Daily Kos asked Lucas why the Virginia Board of Education has not been more publicly vocal, as many of the board members are Black, she said they generally keep a low profile. But, she added, “When they meet I am sure you will see real pushback. Right now the focus is on the legislature because so many of these changes require our approval. Which they will not be getting.”
In addition to the ire of Black parents, the Virginia teachers’ union is also going after Youngkin.
The president of the Virginia Education Association (VEA), a union representing more than 40,000 teachers and school support professionals, said the tip line is "designed to intimidate educators simply trying to do their jobs."
In a statement to Newsweek, James J. Fedderman said: "Since the start of his campaign for Governor, Glenn Youngkin has blatantly attempted to pit educators against parents for political gain, seeming to forget that many educators are also parents.
"When the Governor speaks of 'parents' rights', he seems interested in speaking only to those who conveniently support his political beliefs.
"Now, barely two weeks into his administration, he has managed to sow chaos and division throughout the Commonwealth with his unconstitutional executive orders and poorly conceived 'hotline' designed to intimidate educators simply trying to do their jobs."
Youngkin spokesperson Macalauy Porter told Newsweek the governor's office set up the tip line as a "resource for parents, teachers, and students to relay any questions or concerns."
"Governor Youngkin was elected to serve all Virginians and has utilized a customary constituent service, to hear from Virginians and solicit feedback," she added.
This goes along smoothly with the executive order he signed banning the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in Virginia schools.
Youngkin claims CRT is “indoctrination” with “inherently divisive concepts” that “instruct students to only view life through the lens of race and presumes that some students are consciously or unconsciously racist, sexist, or oppressive and that other students are victims.”
When asked about new his tip line Monday, Youngkin told conservative radio host John Fredericks, “We’re asking for folks to send us reports and observations that they have that will help us be aware of things like privilege bingo, be aware of their child being denied their rights that parents have in Virginia. And we’re going to make sure we catalog it all.”
“Catalog it?” Sounds a lot like fascism to me. Not to mention the fact that most Black and brown folks believe that not enough of our history has been taught in most schools.
But when it comes to the anti-CRT movement, many Black parents in Virginia have been on the front lines fighting, screaming into the void about education in the state, better access to programs, and about racial disparities in general.
“We’ve been ringing the alarm for months,” Monica Hutchinson, a parent of two Black children at Hermitage High School in Henrico County, part of the Richmond metro area, tells Daily Kos. She says she’s outraged by Youngin’s attacks on education, but not shocked.
“They’re using CRT to attack equity, diversity, and inclusion programs in our schools. And the more power BIPOC parents gain, the harder the pushback,” she says. “We’re still having discussions about more diversity in our teaching staff and our administration.”
When it comes to the topic of American history, which includes the subject of enslaved people and systemic racism, by the way, Hutchinson, who’s attended the recent explosive school board meetings, says “no one is trying to make your child feel bad. But, how do you think our children feel when you refuse to address the past and they’re forced to relive that trauma?” Hutchinson says she doesn’t think it’s even about white kids feeling bad; it’s about them coming home after learning about the history of white Americans and looking at their parents and grandparents and wondering where they stood in times of segregation. “It’s all about denying the truth,” she says, adding: “They talk about the rights of students, but, the rights of which students? And when they talk about how CRT will teach Black kids to be victims, I say it will not. It will teach them that after all of the barriers they’ve had, they’ve made it. They’re survivors.”
Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who is also the chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee, tells Daily Kos that what the Virginia administration wants to do with education will require changes to existing law. “They will meet a brick wall in the Senate when they seek those changes,” Lucas said.
She added that Black parents have seen this level of racism in their state before. “What I hear from people is ‘Not this time. We are not going backward,” Lucas said.
When Daily Kos asked Lucas why the Virginia Board of Education has not been more publicly vocal, as many of the board members are Black, she said they generally keep a low profile. But, she added, “When they meet I am sure you will see real pushback. Right now the focus is on the legislature because so many of these changes require our approval. Which they will not be getting.”
In addition to the ire of Black parents, the Virginia teachers’ union is also going after Youngkin.
The president of the Virginia Education Association (VEA), a union representing more than 40,000 teachers and school support professionals, said the tip line is "designed to intimidate educators simply trying to do their jobs."
In a statement to Newsweek, James J. Fedderman said: "Since the start of his campaign for Governor, Glenn Youngkin has blatantly attempted to pit educators against parents for political gain, seeming to forget that many educators are also parents.
"When the Governor speaks of 'parents' rights', he seems interested in speaking only to those who conveniently support his political beliefs.
"Now, barely two weeks into his administration, he has managed to sow chaos and division throughout the Commonwealth with his unconstitutional executive orders and poorly conceived 'hotline' designed to intimidate educators simply trying to do their jobs."
Youngkin spokesperson Macalauy Porter told Newsweek the governor's office set up the tip line as a "resource for parents, teachers, and students to relay any questions or concerns."
"Governor Youngkin was elected to serve all Virginians and has utilized a customary constituent service, to hear from Virginians and solicit feedback," she added.