From the Washington Examiner, by Paul Bedard
Concerns that government leaders have too much control over what children are taught in classrooms continue to be a driving issue after playing a central role in last year’s Virginia election for governor.
In a national John Zogby Strategies survey, 48% of parents of children 12 and younger said authorities have “too much control,” while 17% said “too little control.” About 23% said schools have “just enough control.”
The issue has become a national talking point, especially for Republicans eager to push back on teacher unions and liberal political leaders who favor teaching critical race theory and promoting progressive social policies in classes.
It flared up in last year’s election between former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, running for a second term, and conservative businessman Glenn Youngkin. McAuliffe was expected to win easily until he said in a debate that parents shouldn’t control what goes on in classrooms.
“I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” said McAuliffe, who previously served as governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018, in a debate with Youngkin that changed the direction of the race that the Republican eventually won.
