Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I am writing to respond to several recent letters claiming that School Board member Lorraine Forrest refused, in 2021, to answer a question about the teaching of Critical Race Theory in Mathews schools. Like so much misinformation that is promoted today on social media and by those who want to create fear and confusion, this is not true.

The question to Forrest was, “answer yes or no, do you support teaching CRT in schools?” She declined to respond to the yes-or-no format because of several reasons: CRT is not being taught in Mathews schools or any K-12 schools in Virginia; the question is often used by politicians who provide no details about what CRT is (a college-based curriculum) and who want to create false choices; who ignore what actually is being taught as part of history and social studies lesson materials in our classrooms; and who do not want to get into details or facts.

When extremists start providing the actual language they claim is so offensive and dangerous, then we can have a discussion. This also goes for their claims that pornography is being provided in school libraries and that certain books should be banned. Until then, it’s like saying there is a horrible monster under the bed that will come out at any time to eat you and destroy all that you hold dear. But they don’t want you to look under the bed. This is why Lorraine Forrest is the right person to continue serving on the Mathews County School Board. Vote for her on or before Nov. 8.

Chris Bridge
Moon, Va.