Randi Weingarten Is Gaslighting Us. She Fought To Keep Schools Closed, Not Open.

Teachers Union Boss Claims She Fought to Reopen Schools During Pandemic

The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Randi Weingarten, is facing criticism for claiming that she fought to reopen schools during the pandemic. However, the reality is that her union aggressively pushed to keep schools closed, making unscientific demands about safety.

Back in July 2020, Weingarten called the Trump administration’s plan to reopen schools in the fall “reckless,” “callous,” and “cruel.” She even declared that “nothing is off the table” for the teachers union to get their demands, including teacher strikes.

Despite CDC data showing that children had extremely low rates of hospitalization or death from COVID, teachers unions, more than COVID infection rates, were driving the decisions to keep schools closed. Even as late as 2022, the Chicago Teachers Union, which is affiliated with the AFT, pushed for a return to remote learning in the country’s third-largest school district, resulting in classes being canceled for five days.

Revisionist History

Weingarten is now trying to revise history by claiming that she “tried to do everything we could to reopen schools safely.” This is four-dimensional gaslighting. Weingarten is trying to misrepresent her prior positions and her words are not representative of her actions.

this is a lie. delete your account. https://t.co/KcQXRqUBkX

— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) April 28, 2023

On both Wednesday and Thursday, Weingarten tweeted out a video of selective, spliced-together clips of her saying she “wants” to reopen schools. However, critics quickly pointed out that Weingarten has misrepresented her prior positions and her “words are not representative of her actions.”

Angry Parent and Republican Lawmakers

Weingarten appeared before a House panel on the COVID pandemic where she was skewered by irate Republican lawmakers. “The effect on children has been vast and to have no remorse on closing schools and keeping them closed for the length of time is unconscionable,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), a medical doctor and the former director of Iowa’s health department.

Later on Thursday evening, the union boss appeared on CNN, normally a friendly environment for her, and was destroyed by an angry parent on the panel. “I think you’ll find that most parents believe you were the tip of the spear of school closures,” said CNN commentator Scott Jennings, adding that he has four children at home including two with “learning differences.”

It’s time for teachers unions to stop playing politics with our children’s education and prioritize their well-being.