As many of the education decisions that can be made on a local level should be. That principal has guided Columbia County to be one of the best systems in the state and made the area one of the most sought-after locations in the country.
The candidates running for school board on the platform that critical race theory exists or is being taught is complete and utter nonsense. In interviewing those candidates not one could produce one document or shred of evidence that the theory is being taught in Columbia County. Most of them acknowledged that fact. Instead, they point to a “optional” class offered to teachers during the 2021 summer that featured a speaker who does espouse values most Columbia County residents share.
Despite the optional course for teachers, there is still zero evidence that the class promoted or encouraged the principles of critical race theory. None of the candidates attended the class or had any of them spoken to a teacher who attended the class claiming critical race theory was promoted.
Critical race theory is not being taught in Columbia County schools. The state has mandated that it will not be taught. Candidates running the platform that it is being taught are using rhetoric that is not accurate but is designed to insight fear in the belly of parents.
This same fear is what stemmed the issues related to banning certain books. Both the incumbents and challengers agree that books should not be banned but that a good policy should be in place to remove inappropriate books. Yet, this issue is still being used to promote a red herring issue that does not exist in schools.
The current school board is not perfect and without blame. They did not handle the crisis quickly or transparently. Open communication would have helped quell much of the dialogue about critical race theory and book banning. Instead, the school board clammed up and took a defensive posture. Members should come out and make a public statement denouncing the teaching of critical race theory and reiterate that they have not and do not plan to promote it or encourage their teachers to promote the principles of critical race theory.
The Columbia County School Board does a great job overseeing one of the best school districts in the state. We should leave the incumbents in office but encourage transparency and accountability to parents to address the issues head on.
