Is spending tens of thousands of dollars to bring in a well-known critical race theorist a valid use of taxpayer funds? Some Virginians took issue with Fairfax County Public Schools’ decision to fund a one-hour virtual conversation with author Ibram X.

The New York Times’ controversial “1619 Project” continues to stoke criticism, this time for rewriting its own story. “History is a harsh mistress when trifled with,” wrote The Heritage Foundation’s Jonathan Butcher late last month.

If Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber’s public confession to institutional racism was an attempt at virtue signaling, it backfired.

“Racist assumptions from the past … remain embedded in the structures of the university itself,” he wrote in a letter sent Sept. 2 to people associated with Princeton.

Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary say they could lose millions of dollars due to alleged misconduct by a charitable foundation established to support the two Texas schools. The institutions on Sept. 8 sued the Harold E. Riley Foundation and President Mike Hughes, claiming the board changed the organization’s bylaws to deprive the schools of money.

Sporting backpacks laden with fresh notebooks and sharpened pencils, millions of children in countries around the world returned to school in recent weeks. Many expressed excitement for the new academic year despite the necessity of pandemic precautions like masks and social distancing.

“It felt fine going back to school,” said Eddie Favell, 11, after his first day at Kingsdale Foundation School in London. “I didn’t really think about corona.”

Trouble started brewing in Iowa this summer when Gov. Kim Reynolds announced at least half of all schools must meet in person this fall. She pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance showing COVID-19 posed little risk to children and transmission rates among kids and even between children and adults remained low.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill freshman Mackenzie Holland spent just two weeks in Ehringhaus Residence Hall before packing up and heading home.

“I kind of expected it, but I’m just kind of disappointed in my classmates and the people that are out partying because now I can’t finish my college experience,” she said. “I know that we’ll be back one day, but it’s just sad right now.”