Youngkin Makes First Positive Steps in Virginia

Glenn Youngkin meets supporters, November 4, 2021. Photo courtesy of Youngkin for Governor.

After coming out of the political ether, no one knew if Glenn Youngkin was simply talking a big game to gain conservative support, or if he actually meant what he said about changing schools in Virginia. Now, Youngkin is taking the first steps towards protecting students from “woke” politics. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board notes that Youngkin has begun “Recasting the state’s ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ office to substitute “opportunity” for ‘equity.'” That small change might not seem like a lot, but shifting the state’s goals to opportunity could fundamentally alter the conversation.

Equity Is Impossible to Achieve

Focusing on “equity” sets the state up for failure, and will create persistence division as promises remain forever undelivered. The WSJ writes:

At a general level this change is largely symbolic because what matters is how the office will operate in practice. But the symbolism still matters because it represents a major fault line in American culture and politics.

The left, including the Biden Administration, has abandoned its long-held support for equal opportunity in favor of “equity,” by which it means equal outcomes. The latter is impossible to achieve given human differences, but it is used to justify destructive and polarizing policies that favor some groups over others.

Honest, Objective and Complete

An honest, objective, and complete curriculum can both educate children, and protect them from the radical wokism they face today. The WSJ continues:

As first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Mr. Youngkin issued an executive order tasking the diversity office to focus, among other things, on economic opportunity, cooperation among religious groups, promoting “free speech and civil discourse” on campus, and ensuring that the state’s history curriculum is “honest, objective, and complete.” The latter takes aim at the inculcation of critical-race theory in schools, which Mr. Youngkin campaigned against.

Virginia an Example for America

If Youngkin’s efforts work, Virginia will be an example for America. The WSJ concludes:

The new Governor appointed Angela Sailor of the Heritage Foundation to lead the office. Ms. Sailor, who worked in the George W. Bush Administration, will have cabinet rank.

Government can do more to provide equal opportunity for all Americans, especially in education. If Ms. Sailor and Mr. Youngkin succeed in making that kind of progress in Virginia, they’ll do far more to promote genuine equity than all of the progressive equity police will do to promote opportunity.