New Leaders Take the Helm in VA and NYC
Glenn Youngkin was inaugurated the 74th governor of Virginia on January 15. Youngkin became the first Republican to assume that office in nearly a decade in the increasingly Democratic-leaning commonwealth.
Governor Youngkin wasted little time after he was sworn in and signed eleven executive orders on his first day. Among the more controversial actions were the governor’s move to ban the teaching of ‘divisive concepts’ and another prohibiting school districts from mandating face coverings.
How did activists respond to the tip line launched by the Virginia Department of Education?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
Winning Virginia Was the Easy Part. Can Glenn Youngkin Govern?
New York Times
1/20/22
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/us/politics/virginia-glenn-youngkin-governor.html
Virginia parents file lawsuit against Gov. Youngkin over executive order ending mask mandates in public schools
CNN
1/19/22
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/virginia-parents-youngkin-masks-lawsuit/index.html
More than half of Virginia school districts are defying Youngkin’s mask-optional order
Washington Post
1/26/22
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/26/virginia-schools-masking-rules/
‘It’s scaring people to death’: Youngkin’s tip line fuels anger from the left at agenda to reframe race education
Richmond Times-Dispatch
1/29/22
News Articles (Analyses):
Virginia’s Youngkin and New York’s Adams are winning blueprints for their parties
Fox News
1/27/22
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/virginia-youngkin-new-york-adams-democrats-republicans-colin-reed
Eric Adams’ war against crime sparks Democratic unrest
Politico
1/28/22
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/28/adams-nypd-crime-00002011
Mourners Remember N.Y.P.D. Officer Killed in Shooting: ‘He Was Joy’
New York Times
1/29/22
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/nyregion/nypd-jason-rivera-funeral.html
Mayor Adams Gets Waiver to Hire His Brother – But Without the Lucrative Salary
NBC New York
1/27/22
Assessment:
Writing: Explain how Eric Adams and Glenn Youngkin were both able to emerge as winning candidates. Will they be able to govern effectively if they regularly alienate their political party?
Debate: Will Virginia’s tip line for reporting divisive practices stifle learning in public schools?
Poll: Should New York City reactivate its plain clothes crime unit to combat gun violence?
Short Answer: Describe how Eric Adams unique background might help New York City achieve meaningful police reform?
QUIZ:
Why have so many school districts defied Governor Youngkin’s executive order repealing mask mandates?
- state law requires schools to follow CDC guidance
- the omega variant has caused an increase in cases
- the U.S. Supreme Court already upheld mask mandates in schools
- Virginia schools have all transitioned to virtual instruction
Critics of Governor Youngkin’s desire to ban critical race theory in public schools argue that
- CRT is an essential part of curriculum.
- CRT has not been previously been taught in Virginia schools.
- CRT addresses a problem that no longer exists.
- CRT makes people more racist.
Mayor Adams created controversy when he tried to hire his brother for what official position?
- mayor pro tempore
- fire chief
- security detail manager
- sanitation department manager
Virginia was the last state to require face coverings in public schools. (T/F)
TikTok users banded together to spam Virginia’s tip line. (T/F)
Eric Adams’ brother Bernard was allowed to join the mayor’s administration for the salary of $1. (T/F)
