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As we slowly approach the denouement of the Virginia Republican nomination process, it’s been mildly surprising how tame things are. Sneaky Pete (sic) and Woke Glenn (sic) — and these are such dumb monikers for two decent men, right? — are pretty much reinforcing their own objections. Amanda Chase (who requires no pejorative prefixing) is focusing on the admirable substance of her record rather than the deplorable style of her rhetoric — a pleasing change of pace and a far better look for the embattled state senator from Chesterfield. Meanwhile, Kirk Cox is making the pitch to be everyone’s second choice. But not before unloading on his opposition — with positive vibes, that is.
When you ask Republicans — rank and file — what’s most important in 2021, the answer (despite the divisions on candidates and nomination methods) is always and has always been to beat the Democrats. Meanwhile, Virginia Democrats are truly at sixes and sevens. McAuliffe is already calling in the heavy artillery with endorsements from the Jeff Bezos owned Washington Post — remarkable only when they break ranks with the Democratic Party — and a series of heavy hitters to remind progressives and minorities not to make too many waves. Which is more than just moderately despicable, one might add. Still, Virginia Democrats are taking tremendous pressure from the Department of Education’s plan to lower expectations for minority students by eliminating some advanced math courses. So here we have an interesting dynamic. Virginia Republicans are effectively signing kumbaya heading into what should have been a seven-way knife fight, with Kirk Cox leading the chorus and everyone else picking up their respective hymnals. In contrast, Virginia Democrats find themselves between Scylla (their progressive base) and Charybdis (stark reality) when it comes to implementing a malignant form of Critical Race Theory in public schools via Kendi-style anti-racism. Democrats cannot simultaneously sell their progressive base that “the institutions are racist and need reform” and go back to suburban Virginia and say “but we are maintaining excellent standards while eliminating standards altogether.” It sounds contradictory because it is contradictory. The real danger for Virginia Democrats at this rate is that progressive criticisms of the institutions — public education specifically — share a great deal with conservative criticisms of the same institutions. Where the difference lies is in the solutions. Yet in a true hybrid of RFK and Jack Kemp, if conservative solutions (school choice) can effect progressive endgames (dismantling prejudiced institutions) to improve the quality of education for every Virginian without applying cookie cutter solutions? That — it seems — is the problem in a nutshell. Meanwhile, McAuliffe and Virginia Democrats are desperately trying to put the woke toothpaste back into the woke tube and maintain power, the progressive left and the conservative right are both ironically making the same argument for decentralization in the face of prejudiced and mediocre institutions. Progressives are starting to figure out that a few second-place trophies on Monument Avenue was little more than a condescending platitude from the powers-that-be that didn’t lift a single person out of poverty nor did it educate a single child. Credentialism isn’t enough; lowering the bar is disgustingly racist at core. Maintaining standards of excellence and giving parents the tools and resources to help their children succeed in their own way? Now there’s a path forward. Conservatives have long argued this; progressives are coming around. That puts Virginia Democrats in a tough spot because it means they have to recognize their centralized paternalism and condescension as relics of the old Byrd Machine. They can’t do it, because it means surrendering power to those people. Time to break the wheel. If you’re looking for the hook that is going to put McAuliffe and Herring in deep trouble come November? There it is — and it’s a narrative shift that Virginia Democrats will utterly resist for one reason and one reason alone. It shifts the power dynamic away from the institutions they control and back into the hands of families. Meanwhile, Virginia Republicans sense that something is different. They are right to do so. Hopefully the RPV Convention moves along with too many people throwing sand in the gears and with tremendous integrity. Better us than the Democrats, I say. Shaun Kenney is the editor of The Republican Standard, former chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Fluvanna County, and a former executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia.
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Thursday, April 29, 2021
Kirk Cox UNLOADS on GOP Gubernatorial Candidates
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Re: KGTP Newsletter - School Board Meeting Wednesday 28 April 2021
Fellow Members of the King George TEA Party:
Below is the content of my 3-minute Citizen Comment monologue for the King George School Board. Unfortunately for us, I was the only one from the KGTP to address the Board. I welcome your comments on what I presented; I welcome you to contact the School Board either via e-mail or during their next meeting.
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Several recent news reports support Delegate Margaret Ransone's recent letter that announced that Virginia schools would soon eliminate all accelerated math courses prior to 11th grade. That means that algebra and geometry courses will not be available until late in a student's education. This radical change is not being done because it will increase our student's math comprehension but is being done as part of an "equity-focused plan."
First off, as an engineer that has taken a lot of math courses, the school system will set their students up for failure in college if this change is implemented. Math is hard, it requires students to grasp difficult concepts early in their education, and 11th grade is far beyond that threshold. A close parallel is learning how to play a musical instrument. Learning how to play a violin, piano, or trumpet cannot be delayed until 11th grade for the sake of "equity" and still expect the senior class' orchestra to play beautiful music.
On a separate, but related, issue, additional news reports have announced that Virginia is exploring plans to end advanced diplomas. Specifically, the Virginia Education Department's director of policy went on record to state, "… graduation requirements can operate as a lever for equity." This single quote calls into question whether the official policy for Virginia's schools is to focus on education or to conduct social engineering.
Secondly, while equal opportunity is what the 1960's Civil Rights movement was all about, the present-day concept of "equity" has no place in the classroom. "Equity" is all about equal outcome, not opportunity, with mediocrity as the desired objective. That concept is Socialism on the intellectual playing field.
Life-at-large is not about collective "equity" but is about competition. In the strategic sense, there is no larger Game of Life than warfare with winners and losers, period. To illustrate, I invite you to read the Department of Defense's most recent National Defense Strategy. One quote from it is this:
"The reemergence of long-term strategic competition, [the] rapid dispersion of technologies, and new concepts of warfare and competition that span the entire spectrum of conflict require a Joint Force structured to match this reality."
The students of today will make up America's Joint Force of tomorrow. That is the reality. Toward that end, what students today will create the technology of tomorrow? Students that excelled in science, technology, engineering, and math will. What students today will develop the new concepts for competition in the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic fields of tomorrow? Students that are encouraged to rise above mediocrity and achieve the highest academic accolades will.
By extension, what school board will be willing to risk losing the future's national security strategic competition in pursuit of "equity?" Only those that are eager for America to play second fiddle to China, Russia, and most of the more advanced states in this world.
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As always, I welcome any questions or comments you may have.
James Hull
King George TEA Party
King George, Virginia
On Apr 25, 2021, at 11:30 PM, James Hull (KGTP) <james@kinggeorgeteaparty.com> wrote:Fellow Members of the King George TEA Party:During our 1 April 2021 meeting, every one of the meeting's attendees agreed to join me in addressing the King George County School Board at 6:00 PM on Wednesday 28 April at the King George High School in order to raise issues during the Citizen Comment period. Everyone that would like to join in on this effort is warmly welcome to do so. My recommendation is that you prepare your 3 minute monologue NOW, rehearse it over the next couple of days, and 'dress for success' prior to your presentation. Here is the link to that Agenda:At the time, the impetus for providing this feedback was because our county taxes WILL be raised this year and a significant reason is due to the increased school budget. Our teachers AND students are NOT back in school full-time and as a result the quality of instruction to our county's students is far below what is normally provided during in-person school sessions. In a nutshell, our taxes are going up even though the quality of what we citizens expect to get from those taxes is going down. If a Wal-Mart or Food Lion cashier can attend to their register for an 8-hour shift of constantly meeting with the public then we should expect that our teachers to perform their jobs in-person with their students as well. That is what we pay them to do. The required safety protocols specified by the CDC are all implemented in our county's schools… so why the delay?I am sure that you have your own perspective based upon what you have personally heard from parents, teacher-friends, and students. Bring up those issues.Beyond that, however, events at the state and national level have taken a turn that also requires county citizens to provide immediate feedback to the school's leadership. Below are news articles on three subjects that directly impact Virginia's students. These links should provide to you additional information to prepare for your Citizen Comments. Below these links is a copy of Delegate Margaret Ransone's latest letter that also addresses issues in our schools. Again, use her letter as a foundation for YOUR input to the School Board as well.Delayed MathVirginia moving to eliminate all accelerated math courses before 11th grade as part of equity-focused planVA Officials May Axe Advanced Math Classes, Critics Cite 'Equity' PushVirginia To Eliminate All Accelerated Maths Classes Prior To 11th Grade. Because 'Equity'Critical Race TheoryVirginia teacher says critical race theory has damaged community as frustrated parents demand changesCritical race theory in Virginia schools needs to end. I'm a parent watching this unfoldCritical Race Theory Is Taking Over Virginia Beach Schools'Blatantly Lying Or They Do Not Understand Critical Race Theory': Parents Group Releases Evidence Of Indoctrination In Virginia County SchoolsThe End of Basic Education: Biden Issues Public School Critical Race Theory OrderCritical Race Theory and the Death of Public EducationCritical Race Theory Promotes Discrimination And RacismBiden administration offers grants to teach children '1619 Project,' inherent racism central to U.S.Biden Is Using Your Tax Dollars To Make American Kids Hate Their CountryEducation Department Proposal Would Flood Public Schools With Woke CurriculaEnd Advanced DiplomasVirginia explores plan to end advanced diplomas: 'Equitably serving the needs...of all of Virginia learners'The following letter was sent from our Delegate, Margaret Ransone, margaret@margaretransone.com/*******************************************************************//*******************************************************************/Dear Friend,During the last few days, we have received news on several policies that will be implemented in our school systems across the Commonwealth. As a mother of two, with one still in public school, I understand the frustration that many of you have raised regarding these new policies. These ideas will not help our students but rather harm their growth in navigating the fast-paced society we live in today.Plan to End Advanced DiplomasThe Virginia Department of Education is taking steps to end advanced diplomas. This call for the elimination of the advanced diploma is driven in the name of promoting "equity." Consequently, this consolidation effort includes a plan that will redefine the math curriculum, known as the Virginia Math Pathways Initiative(VMPI). VMPI will eliminate ALL math acceleration prior to 11th grade. Math courses, including Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2, will be considered to be removed from the high school mathematics program. These courses will instead be replaced with essential concepts.You can click the link below to view a full article on the elimination of all accelerated math courses before 11th grade.Transgender PolicyFollowing a bill passed in the Virginia General Assembly forcing the Virginia Department of Education to establish "clear policies" for how transgender kids should be treated in the public school system. These guidelines include:
- Allowing students to use whatever changing facilities or restrooms that correlate with their chosen sexual identity, regardless of biological sex.
- Barring teachers and school staff from questioning any student entering a restroom or locker room.
- Subjecting teachers or students who fail to use a child's preferred pronouns to disciplinary measures.
- Requiring "gender neutral" attire guidelines for all school-related programs and activities.
- Permitting students to participate in any school event or activity, including extra-curricular programs, "segregated by gender" based on their preferred sexual identity.
You can view the link below to view the full article<Snip>As always, I am honored to represent the 99th District. Please don't hesitate to contact my office by calling (804) 472-4181 or emailing delmransone@house.virginia.gov.God Bless,Margaret/*******************************************************************//*******************************************************************/As always, I welcome any questions or comments you may have.
James HullKing George TEA PartyKing George, Virginia
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