Newly elected Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Sears went toe-to-toe with a CNN host who said that Critical Race Theory was not taught in schools, saying that it has been woven into the curriculum for years.

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On Sunday morning, Dana Bash quizzed Sears – the first woman  the first woman to become Lt. Governor and first woman of color elected to a statewide office in Virginia – on CNN’s State of the Union.

At one point during the interview, Bash said that CRT was not being taught in schools, at which point Sears interrupted her, saying: ‘No, no, no it is part of the curriculum.’

Sears, who previously served on Virginia’s board of education, continued: ‘It’s weaved in and out of the curriculum. In 2015, former governor, who was just defeated, McAuliffe, his state board of education had information on how to teach it, so it’s weaved in.  . . .

The use of critical race theory, or CRT, in education has been criticized for its message that the US is built on racism with skin color determining the social, economic, and political differences between each.

Advocates say its teaching is necessary to underline how deeply racism pervades society, critics say it is divisive and paints everyone as a victim or oppressor, with multiple Virginia school board meetings making headlines after parents were filmed clashing with staff over the decision to teach it.

Republican newcomer and now elected Governor Glenn Youngkin pledged to ban CRT, seizing on the discontent of parents who had grown agitated after the Loudon County school board announced a $6million ‘equity-training’ program that parents associated with CRT.   . . .

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During the segment, Sears told Bash: 'What we want to say and what governor-elect Youngkin has said is that all of history must be taught, the good, the bad and the ugly because what we learn from history, Dana, is that we don't learn from history and we continue to repeat the same mistakes.'

The new Lt. Governor also promised an education system that represents 'all people.'  . . .

The tight Youngkin-McAuliffe race took a turn after the Republican newcomer pledged to ban CRT.  . . .

Loudon County, a Democratic stronghold in northern Virginia, became the focal point of debate over woke policies by school boards across the country.

In April, the county announced that it planned to allocate more than $6 million to 'equity training' which was met with strong opposition by some residents. . . .

Protests then reignited in September, when the school board voted 6-3 in favor of beginning a study into whether it would be appropriate to give reparations to black people after it previously ignored a landmark desegregation ruling.   . . .

Youngkin said he would banned CRT from schools and said he would open an investigation into the Loudoun County School Board, which has further marred in controversy over an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by a boy wearing a skirt in a high school bathroom.

Sears may be less known for her policy positions than for a campaign photo showing the 57-year-old former Marine posing with a military rifle.  . . .

Those who know her say Sears is more than a gun-toting caricature - they point to her willingness to buck her own party at times, and her dedication to school choice and other conservative education priorities.

The photo grabbed attention, but she held it with an engaging, almost stream-of-consciousness speaking style, firing up the crowds for her ticket mate Youngkin.  . . .

Sears has embraced President Donald Trump, serving as co-chair of a group called Black Americans to Re-elect President Trump, and defending him against charges of racism. . . .

In 2018, she launched a write-in campaign for US Senate when Corey Stewart, whose campaign had links to white supremacists and used the Confederate flag as a prop, won the GOP nomination.

'The Republican Party never saluted the Confederate flag, did not fight under the Confederate flag ... and he is our candidate, our nominee?' she said at the time. 'He does not represent the party of Lincoln. ... He is not a true Republican.' . . .

Pray: Father, protect us from the evil around us. Thank You that You have given us Your Word as a weapon. Help us to know Your Word and hide it deeply in our hearts.

Your turn: Share your prayers about CRT hiding and embedded in the school systems in the comments below.

(Excerpt from The Daily Mail. Photo by Getty Images.)