A turbulent audience led to law enforcement being called into the Gloucester School Board meeting at the T.C. Walker Education Center Tuesday evening.

The crowd was respectful for the first 20 to 25 minutes of the meeting during which several presentations were made, including gifts to the school division’s teachers of the year and to the board’s departing student advisory representative for the 2020-2021 school year.

When board chairman Robin Rice opened the floor for a public hearing on the school division’s comprehensive plan, she began to get more than she asked for. While a couple of people did address the long-term, goal-oriented comprehensive plan, the majority of speakers were clearly not there to discuss that topic.

“Critical Race Theory” was the key phrase for the speakers, along with Virginia’s proposed equity curriculum. Also mentioned were the 1619 project and the elimination of higher level math classes. One speaker said a recently adopted African American Histo...