Gov. Youngkin made a big deal about not teaching Divisive Concepts in the classroom last year. This year, however, his appointee presented a Draft Social Studies standard that is filled with Right Wing talking points presented as if they were fact.
Among these is the statement that Socialism is incompatible with democracy and individual freedom.
I believe that our allies in Europe would have a thing or two to say about that statement.
Other Divisive statements are the implication of severe limits on Government economic power as well as the statement that government should only provide services not produced by the market.
All of these are Right Wing opinions stated as though they are fact.
IN August of 2022, the Board of Education reviewed new History Standards for Virginia education. Rather than vote to adopt the standards, Superintendent Balow, a Youngkin appointee, suggested postponing the vote until November so that some minor revisions could be made.
In November, The Younngkin Administration presented it's rewrite. The document was an insult to the scholarly work that had come before. The Youngkin standards were a biased whitewash of American history devoid of the perspective and accuracy provided by the previous version. On November 18th, 2022, The Board of Education met to vote on the new standards. They were confronted with a wide array of public speakers in opposition to the new Youngkin SubStandard Standards. For Four hours, people from all over Virginia explained, emoted, and even pleadded with the board that these Standards could not be approved.
In the end, the Board Rejected the Youngkin proposal and asked that it be combines with the August Proposal to form a new compromise.
This compromise document was finally delivered on January 6th of this year and the DOE will take up the discussion once more on February 1st .
Bellum Vero is collecting information to help you stay informed and take action to ensure that a complete and accurate history is presented to our students
