New Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin upheld a campaign promise on his first day in office by announcing executive actions barring postmodern racism from the classroom. Specifically, he banned the institutionalization of the toxic racialist ideology known as critical race theory in public schools in Virginia. It was an important move, but it is only a temporary solution to a much bigger problem. In order to truly eradicate CRT, and all of its toxic subvariants known as “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” we must work to change the culture as well.
In Executive Order Number One, “Ending the use of inherently divisive concepts, including critical race theory, and restoring excellence in K-12 public education in the Commonwealth,” Youngkin did not waste any time tackling arguably the pressing issue of his election campaign.
“By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby issue this Executive Order to ensure excellence in K-12 public education in the Commonwealth by taking the first step on Day One to end the use of inherently divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, and to raise academic standards,” Youngkin announced in his executive order.
Youngkin emphasized that “political indoctrination has no place in our classrooms” and advocated a returned focus on “imparting critical knowledge and skills in math, science, history, reading and other areas that should be non-controversial.”
He also stressed the importance of educating students and letting them form their own opinions, as opposed to telling them “what to think.”
“Inherently divisive concepts, like Critical Race Theory and its progeny, 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,” the executive order said. “This denies our students the opportunity to gain important facts, core knowledge, formulate their own opinions, and to think for themselves. Our children deserve far better from their education than to be told what to think.”
This is an excellent first step in tackling critical race theory in Virginia (and ultimately the country), but it is important to do more, much more. A ban on the new racialism is only a band-aid on a decades-formed wound. Leftists and increasingly Democrats in politics have been pushing these toxic ideologies for decades. To have a lasting effect, those against CRT must also work diligently at changing the culture in the entire country.
Liberals, Democrats, and other radical leftists have spent years working to indoctrinate the minds of the country’s youth to believe the venomous racist and anti-American garbage that underpins critical race theory. As a result, multiple generations have grown up believing that America is a horrible, irredeemably racist country founded and built on racism and white supremacy. Those indoctrinated in the last generation are the ones teaching our students today.
Those upset about CRT in schools have a right to be upset. In Virginia, this anger led to Youngkin’s election, but Youngkin can only serve as governor for four years. What if a Democrat is the next governor? He will undo what Youngkin does. Winning elections and passing laws is great, but these are short-term victories unless there is a concerted effort to flip the script on this toxic, anti-American belief system.
