American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has built a career on her fondness for cringeworthy quotes and sound bites.
But even by her standards, Weingarten’s statement to an MSNBC reporter that her union’s members “don’t really care” if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his campaign promise to dissolve the Department of Education, has drawn immense criticism in the Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, Post Millennial and more.
In addition to her characteristic tone deafness, the comment also reveals the motive behind AFT’s actions.
Hidden behind a care for the “whole child” is a focus on the money. As long as cash continues to flow into AFT’s pockets, Weingarten can do and say what she pleases.
In fact, funding its political allies could even become easier with the DOE out of the way.
But this monetary focus isn’t the only question being raised in the aftermath of Weingarten’s interview. Notably, the Washington Times opinion piece questions how powerful teachers unions actually are if the removal of a federal program will be of no consequence.
“In other words,” its author asks, “what has the American Federation of Teachers done for America’s students over the past 108 years? What has its teaching and educational paradigm accomplished for our nation and our schools, and what have its ideas realized for our culture?”
A wealth of examples expose how AFT’s influence has produced an ideologically confused and academically stunted generation of students — criticisms that Weingarten is facing to varying degrees from all media.
Even in the milder critiques of the interview, there remains a mode of uncertainty. Weingarten tries to assume the high ground by spouting that the DOE had its merits in providing federal aid to poor students and protecting “vulnerable learner’s rights.”
What she can’t prove, however, is how her own union’s dues accomplish those tasks, since student achievement test scores were declining even before teachers kept classrooms barred for nearly two years during the COVID scare.
Weingarten’s other empty promises include vowing to work with DOE secretary nominee Linda McMahon, but don’t bet the mortgage that she means it.
In the aftermath of the election, many unions are struggling to anticipate how their daily life will change under Trump’s new administration, and AFT’s true agenda is being exposed in every interview and tweet.
We wait with bated breath to see it all come crashing down.
