Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

December 2021 – On September 28, the second and final debate between Virginia’s top gubernatorial candidates, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R), was televised live from the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. In an extremely tight race, only five weeks before the November 2 election, the two candidates were combative during the entire debate on topics ranging from pandemic mandates to taxation and education.

During extended discussion involving public schools, Youngkin emphasized that parents should be more involved in local school board decisions. McAuliffe’s response rankled voters from both parties. “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” declared the progressive candidate.

After the debate, McAuliffe’s blatant anti-parent slur drew criticism on several fronts. Parental involvement in education is a fundamental state right, according to Virginia Code 1-240.1. Academic research also shows parental involvement of all types is beneficial for student achievement. Parents of public school students found it ironic that McAuliffe attended private Catholic schools for 19 years.

law.lis.virginia.gov; apnnews.com, 9/28/21;
cnsnews.com, 10/6/21