Editor's Pick CNU POLL Williams: Don't believe the hype. Virginians support teachers, books and learning about racism MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS Richmond Times-Dispatch Oct 25, 2023 Oct 25, 2023 Updated Apr 10, 2025 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Michael Paul Williams TIMES-DISPATCH kAm%@ @3D6CG6 E96 A@=:E:42= 6?G:C@?>6?E :? ':C8:?:2[ J@F’5 E9:?< 7@=<D 2C6 H:=5=J 5:DD2E:D7:65 H:E9 z\`a AF3=:4 65F42E:@?[ E62496CD 2C6 C@F?5=J 56DA:D65[ 2?5 3@@< 32??:?8 2?5 9:DE@C:42= H9:E6H2D9:?8 6?;@J H:56DAC625 DFAA@CE]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4?F]65F^H2D@?46?E6C^DFCG6JD^2C49:G6^a_ab\`_\`f]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmqFE 2 C646?E DFCG6J 3J %96 (2D@? r6?E6C 2E r9C:DE@A96C }6HA@CE &?:G6CD:EJ DF886DED E92E ?@?6 @7 E9:D :D ECF6]k^2m xED 7:?5:?8D 2C6 4@F?E6C:?EF:E:G6[ 8:G6? E96 9JA6 DFCC@F?5:?8 2 “!2C6?ED |2EE6C” >@G6>6?E 4C65:E65 H:E9 36:?8 E96 5:776C6?46 >2<6C :? E96 6=64E:@? @7 v@G] v=6?? *@F?8<:? 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E@ E96 D49@@= 3@2C5 — 7@>6?ED 65F42E@C >:DECFDEnk^Am kAmq@@< 46?D@CD9:A :D 9F86=J F?A@AF=2C[ :7 E9:D DFCG6J :D 2?J :?5:42E:@?[ H:E9 gcT 5:D28C66:?8 H:E9 E96 :562 E92E 2 3@@< D9@F=5 36 C6>@G65 :7 2 D:?8=6 A2C6?E @3;64ED] p3@FE b @FE @7 c C6DA@?56?ED 28C665 E92E :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C AF3=:4 D49@@= =:3C2C:6D E@ 92G6 3@@<D E92E C6AC6D6?E 5:G6CD6 A6CDA64E:G6D 23@FE 4@?EC@G6CD:2= :DDF6D[ 6G6? :7 :E >2<6D D@>6 7@=<D F?4@>7@CE23=6]k^Am Dr. James Fedderman, president of the VEA, speaks during a press event outside the Bell Tower on Capitol Square in Richmond on March 29, 2022. BOB BROWN kAm“x E9:?< :E’D 4@?7:C>2E:@? E92E ':C8:?:2 :D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ DE2?5 7@C E96 A@=:E:42= ?@?D6?D6 E92E :D 5:G:5:?8 @FC D49@@=D[ @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J A:EE:?8 @FC 65F42E@CD 282:?DE A2C6?ED[” y2>6D u6556C>2?[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 ':C8:?:2 t5F42E:@? pDD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 %F6D52J]k^AmkAm“t5F42E@CD 2?5 A2C6?ED 92G6 2=H2JD 366? 2 4@==23@C2E:G6 A2CE?6C :? 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E96 “!2C6?ED |2EE6C” 7C@?E :? 25G2?46 @7 A:G@E2= v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J 4@?E6DED] pD<65 E@ D6=64E E96:C E@A\@7\>:?5 :DDF6[ =:<6=J G@E6CD A:4<65 E96 64@?@>J 2?5 :?7=2E:@? WafTX 2?5 23@CE:@? W`fTX 29625 @7 z\`a 65F42E:@? W`aTX]k^Am kAmr~'xs\`h 92D ?@E 8@?6 2H2J[ 3FE :ED :>A24E @? 65F42E:@? :D >@C6 @7 2 =:?86C:?8 27E6CE2DE6 E92? 2 AC6D6?E 52?86C] p3D6?E 2 42?5:52E6 E6==:?8 A2C6?ED E@ 3FEE @FE @7 65F42E:@?[ E96 :DDF6 2AA62CD E@ 36 =6DD @7 2? 2DD6E 7@C E96 A@=:E:42= C:89E E92? H6 E9@F89E] p =6DD G@42= >2;@C:EJ :D ?@E 6?2>@C65 @7 3@@< 32?D[ 65F42E:@?2= H9:E6H2D9:?8 2?5 @E96C A@=:E:42= 962GJ\92?565?6DD]k^Am kAm!2C6?ED DE:== >2EE6C] qFE A@4<6E3@@<D 2?5 H@>6?’D C:89ED A@CE6?5 E@ >2EE6C >@C6]k^Am Kelli Lemon and Michael Paul Williams discuss the current state of the removal of Confederate monuments across Virginia | After the Monuments podcast Michael Paul Williams (804) 649-6815 mwilliams@timesdispatch.com 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story From the Archives: Richmond Public Libraries A look back at Richmond Public Libraries. Williams: Education has been a winning formula for Youngkin, but not for educators and students It's hard to see how a tactic that has so intentionally fomented distrust between students, teachers and parents can be good for learning. Gov… Williams: Mixing public education and religion debases both, and our democracy Before you get all indignant about "those radical socialists at the ACLU," ask yourself how it'd go over if the same tax dollars were put towa… Williams: Reality, not books, is the greatest threat to students In seeking to protect students from books, the protagonists of these bans are missing the big picture: The ugly reality these students inhabit.
Williams: Education has been a winning formula for Youngkin, but not for educators and students It's hard to see how a tactic that has so intentionally fomented distrust between students, teachers and parents can be good for learning. Gov…
Williams: Mixing public education and religion debases both, and our democracy Before you get all indignant about "those radical socialists at the ACLU," ask yourself how it'd go over if the same tax dollars were put towa…
Williams: Reality, not books, is the greatest threat to students In seeking to protect students from books, the protagonists of these bans are missing the big picture: The ugly reality these students inhabit.