Print 
PDF
Virginia’s first-term Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, is being praised for ignoring left-wing cries of “transphobia” and for sticking by a campaign promise that respects parents and their God-given role in their own child’s education.
Gov. Youngkin brings transformation to public education in Virginia.
And he has not forgotten the promises he made to the people who elected him.
Be informed not misled.
On the heels of a mid-September announcement, Youngkin and the Virginia Dept. of Education are now overseeing new “model policies” for how transgender students are defined and treated at their public schools. A key factor in that policy is the school will recognize a student as transgender if the parent asks the school to do so in writing.
I've written and spoken about Youngkin before, but his ability connected with his character is remarkable
That policy comes after woke teachers, counselors, and principals have been busted for hiding “transitioning” students from their clueless parents, who are often portrayed as enemies of progress. Those same school leaders have been accused of grooming those students to identify as the opposite sex at school and to change their names because many classrooms have been transformed into virtual indoctrination centers to push the trans craze.
And now all of that has changed.
The turning point of his election was based on a promise.
Back in 2021, when political newcomer Youngkin jumped into the gubernatorial race, Virginia’s public schools were in a wild uproar under the term-limited governor, Ralph Northam. Across the state, stunned parents learned their quiet suburban schools were immersing their children in “equity” lessons about race and “white privilege,” and transgender-based lessons about gender fluidity and using personal pronouns.
In the governor’s race, Youngkin faced former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, most famous as Bill Clinton’s political aide and hatchet man. Youngkin recognized the anger and frustration among parents, and made that a campaign issue, while McAuliffe gambled on playing dumb about the hot-button issues and defending the teachers’ unions that endorsed him.
“You believe school systems should tell children what to do,” Youngkin, in a debate just weeks before the election, told McAuliffe. “I believe parents should be in charge of their kids’ education.”
“I don’t think parents,” McAuliffe replied, “should be telling schools what they should teach.”
Youngkin promised that if elected, he would restore parents' rightful place in the education of their children.
With that exchange, millions of parents across the state, in many cases crossing the lines of party affiliation, voted for highly capable but mostly unknown Glenn Youngkin.
The new governor has kept his promises.
Victoria Cobb of the Family Foundation of Virginia, says the new governor "is proving he meant what he said as a candidate."
The informed, courageous stand by one political candidate has begun a restoration of sorts in public education in Virginia.
For sure, there's a long way to go, but public education in Virginia is definitely moving in the right direction.
The new policy even publicly recognizes that the "goal of the former policy was achieving cultural and societal transformation in schools."
In the same policy announcement, the Youngkin-led state agency actually admitted it had "disregarded the rights of parents and ignored other legal and constitutional principles that significantly impact how schools educate students, including transgender students."
If there remain any "woke school teachers" in the system who are still confused over parents' rights, they are now being reminded of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States that "gives parents a fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children."
Will Youngkin eventually cave to the Left?
Students in dozens of schools staged walkouts in protest of the draft policies on Tuesday, including in Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, and Stafford counties?
A Youngkin spokeswoman told Fox News, "The guidelines make it clear that when parents are part of the process, schools will accommodate the requests of children and their families. Parents should be a part of their children’s lives, and it’s apparent through the public protests and on-camera interviews that those objecting to the guidance already have their parents as part of that conversation. While students exercise their free speech today, we’d note that these policies state that students should be treated with compassion and schools should be free from bullying and harassment."
Governor Youngkin told Fox what he said during the campaign, and what he has said since the election: "The children don't belong to the state, they belong to families."
Would Youngkin consider running for a higher office, like president?
Except, he made it in Nebraska.
Fox reported, "Glenn Youngkin’s unusual trip to the Cornhusker State is beginning to draw attention as rumors swirl of a potential 2024 GOP presidential bid."
They said:
Political strategists say the trip has sparked speculation given Nebraska’s proximity and overlapping media market with Iowa, the first state to hold a contest in the presidential primaries.
Nebraska's largest media market, Omaha, sits across the river from Iowa.
"Going to Nebraska is as close as going to Iowa without actually stepping foot in the state," said Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican consultant who has run several high-profile campaigns. "It’s hard to know for sure his motivation, but it seems like he’s at least exploring or heavily flirting with the idea of a run."
Takeaway
I still believe there are some honest politicians, but not many.
Dr. Ben Carson defined the kind of people that we should seek to serve in public office.
He said, "I'm not a politician. I don't want to be a politician, because politicians do what is expedient. I want to do what's right."
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Sober. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.