A school principal mistakenly believed that parents can opt their students out of critical race theory “advisory lessons” if they desired.
In a story spotted by Breitbart News yesterday, the online meeting is some kind of coffee hour conversation with principal Beth Costa of Joseph T. Henley Middle School, over in Albemarle County, Virginia. The discussion took place a few months ago.
EXCLUSIVE: NO opt-out of Critical Race Theory in Albemarle County, VA government schools... pic.twitter.com/pQShCmV3vV
— Rob Schilling (@SchillingShow) June 16, 2021
The question is asked. “Can I opt my child out of the critical race theory curriculum?”
Breitbart reported back in May what that means. This slide out of the “Anti-Racism Advisory Student Workbook” being one example.

Beth Costa’s response is “I wish you wouldn’t. Just because I think it’s important to have all voices at the table. But just like you can opt… just like families can opt them out reading a book in English class, you can choose not to have your child participate in these advisory lessons. You would just simply call the school and have Ms. Wilkson, the registrar’s office, mark your child present for the day.”
Then a second staff member, Diversity Resource Teacher Chris Booz, asks to jump in. “I just want to tell in regard to the opting out question? This work is happening in all content areas. So, teachers across the county are incorporating anti-racism work into their content. So if you’re opting out of these advisory lessons… these topics and these lessons and this concept is gonna be woven through in all of their classes in Albemarle county.”
This summer the topic of Critical Race Theory has evolved into more of a hot-button issue, especially after a recent NBC piece tried running defense on behalf of the ideology. Establishment media show hosts like Joy Reid say parents who oppose critical race theory are racists themselves.