West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

Back in the 1960s, the push for parental rights over school standards was not led by white conservatives but by Black and Latino parents

Retrieved on:

Thursday, October 26, 2023

During a 2021 Virginia gubernatorial debate, Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe made a critical mistake that led to his defeat by GOP challenger Glenn Youngkin.

Key Points:

During a 2021 Virginia gubernatorial debate, Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe made a critical mistake that led to his defeat by GOP challenger Glenn Youngkin.
Instead of acknowledging concerns that parents were having over school curriculum, McAuliffe dismissed them.
“I’m not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision,” McAuliffe said during the debate.
But at Ocean Hill-Brownsville, it was Black and Latino parents who demanded their right to have a say in the education of their children.

Inside the classrooms

In the 1960s, only a handful of textbooks on the Board of Education-approved list discussed the history of African Americans in significant detail.
The lack of such material was widely blamed for the disappointing academic performance of Black and Latino students.
Not everyone supported the changes to what was being taught in the classrooms.

In this racially charged atmosphere, local parents enjoyed an unprecedented opportunity to assert their rights.
Their recommendations would eventually influence the direction of curricula in the New York City public school system as a whole.

A constant struggle

Indeed, in Virginia itself, Black parents are still having an effect on what is taught in public schools.
Black politicians and parents criticized those revisions as “white-washing,” and the changes were later rejected by the state Board of Education.

In a further blow to conservatives, parental activists helped shepherd new, more historically inclusive standards that were approved in April 2023.
As history has shown – and today’s debates over school curricula show – “parental rights” are for all parents.

Jerald Podair does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ROC.ai Launches Pilot for Safer Schools in West Virginia

Retrieved on:

Monday, May 8, 2023

This critical initiative will improve safety for students, teachers, and staff – first in West Virginia public schools, then across the country and around the world.

Key Points:

This critical initiative will improve safety for students, teachers, and staff – first in West Virginia public schools, then across the country and around the world.
"We are thrilled to be working with schools in West Virginia to pilot this important innovation.
"We are especially grateful for the early support our pilot initiative has received here in West Virginia.
The Safer Schools Initiative is currently accepting applications from West Virginia school districts interested in collaborating on a smarter, safer future for our students and educators.

Why Fox News' settlement with Dominion Voting Systems is good news for all media outlets

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Fox issued a vaguely worded statement confirming the merits of Dominion’s defamation claims – “We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false” – but was not required to make on-air apologies or corrections.

Key Points:

Fox issued a vaguely worded statement confirming the merits of Dominion’s defamation claims – “We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false” – but was not required to make on-air apologies or corrections.
With that, the lawsuit that captured public attention for two years ended.
The issue is not truth, alone, but whether false statements harmed the plaintiff’s reputation, and whether the news organization was at fault for publishing those statements.
All that remained for a jury to decide was whether the statements were made with actual malice.
Actual malice is the legal standard established by the Supreme Court in 1964 in New York Times v. Sullivan that applies to public officials and public figures.

The facts were on Dominion’s side

Dominion had a tremendous advantage on the eve of trial.
Pretrial discovery revealed a trail of texts and email messages that documented the doubts of executives, editors and pundits at Fox about the veracity of the claims of a conspiracy to steal the 2020 elections, of which Dominion was supposedly an integral part.
Those critics must be dismayed that Fox and its employees will not be raked over the coals and otherwise humiliated in the court of public opinion, as well as in the courtroom.

Disinformation was at the heart of the case

But those who are disappointed may have been seeking more from this case than a libel suit can deliver.
For many, it had become a surrogate for their unhappiness – or even incandescent rage – directed toward Fox for its editorial positions.
In other words, it was about disinformation and the people who are persuaded by it.
Many people would like to ban disinformation.
Smartmatic, which builds electronic voting systems, has a pending libel suit against Fox and is poised to continue the battle.

Why Fox News's settlement with Dominion Voting Systems is good news for all media outlets

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Fox issued a vaguely worded statement confirming the merits of Dominion’s defamation claims – “We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false” – but was not required to make on-air apologies or corrections.

Key Points:

Fox issued a vaguely worded statement confirming the merits of Dominion’s defamation claims – “We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false” – but was not required to make on-air apologies or corrections.
With that, the lawsuit that captured public attention for two years ended.
The issue is not truth, alone, but whether false statements harmed the plaintiff’s reputation, and whether the news organization was at fault for publishing those statements.
All that remained for a jury to decide was whether the statements were made with actual malice.
Actual malice is the legal standard established by the Supreme Court in 1964 in New York Times v. Sullivan that applies to public officials and public figures.

The facts were on Dominion’s side

Dominion had a tremendous advantage on the eve of trial.
Pretrial discovery revealed a trail of texts and email messages that documented the doubts of executives, editors and pundits at Fox about the veracity of the claims of a conspiracy to steal the 2020 elections, of which Dominion was supposedly an integral part.
Those critics must be dismayed that Fox and its employees will not be raked over the coals and otherwise humiliated in the court of public opinion, as well as in the courtroom.

Disinformation was at the heart of the case

But those who are disappointed may have been seeking more from this case than a libel suit can deliver.
For many, it had become a surrogate for their unhappiness – or even incandescent rage – directed toward Fox for its editorial positions.
In other words, it was about disinformation and the people who are persuaded by it.
Many people would like to ban disinformation.
Smartmatic, which builds electronic voting systems, has a pending libel suit against Fox and is poised to continue the battle.

D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship Gives Distinguished Christian Statesman Award to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears at November 16 Capitol Hill Dinner

Retrieved on:

Thursday, November 17, 2022

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship gave Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia Lieutenant Governor, its highest honor, the Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, at a November 16 award dinner on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Key Points:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship gave Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia Lieutenant Governor, its highest honor, the Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, at a November 16 award dinner on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
"Lt. Gov.
Earle-Sears lives out a public Christian witness, applying commonsense Christian values, like the primacy of parental authority in education, to guide her policy preferences."
The Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, given annually since 1996, seeks to honor individuals who combine excellence in public service with character and faith in God.
Earle-Sears demonstrates what it means to be a Christian Statesman," said Lauren Cooley, the new executive director of the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship.