{"id":1634313,"date":"2022-09-06T14:17:42","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T18:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1634313"},"modified":"2022-09-06T14:22:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T18:22:04","slug":"emails-california-teachers-union-ran-oppo-research-on-parents-who-wanted-schools-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/emails-california-teachers-union-ran-oppo-research-on-parents-who-wanted-schools-open\/","title":{"rendered":"EMAILS: California Teachers Union Ran Oppo Research On Parents Who Wanted Schools Open"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Femails-california-teachers-union-ran-oppo-research-on-parents-who-wanted-schools-open%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1634313&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Shortly after parents in California sued the state to reopen schools for their children to attend in-person learning, a California teachers union conducted opposition research on those parents. <\/p>\n<p>April 2021 emails, obtained by the Parent Association via open-records requests and shared in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ReopenCASchools\/status\/1566899054906290176?s=20&amp;t=IwC-dNv9fr90XTI62iyuVw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tweets<\/a> by Reopen California Schools, show Ann Swinburn, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ann-swinburn-a604284\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">strategic research specialist<\/a> at the California Teachers Association, asking lockdown activists for information about \u201cvarious \u2018reopen\u2019 groups around the state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Swinburn specifically expressed interest in Parent Association, the group that believes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parentassociation.org\/our-vision\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cParents are the best advocates for students\u201d<\/a> and strongly advocated for the reopening of schools during the state\u2019s Covid-19 panic. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"880\" data-id=\"278794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.01-AM-1024x880-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.01-AM-1024x880-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.01-AM-300x258-1.png 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.01-AM-768x660-1.png 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.01-AM.png 1198w\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As noted by Reopen California Schools, unions sued the San Dieguito Union High School District to keep schools closed nearly a year into the pandemic, but it was parents in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parentassociation.org\/blog\/north-county-parents-sue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">North County who \u201csuccessfully sued\u201d to open schools in the spring of 2021.<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Swinburn connected with several people who expressed interest in \u201cuncovering some of the ideological leaning of groups that are funding the reopen lawsuits.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"973\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.28-AM-1-973x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.28-AM-1-973x1024-1.png 973w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.28-AM-1-285x300-1.png 285w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.28-AM-1-768x808-1.png 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.10.28-AM-1.png 1214w\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"949\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.15.07-AM-1-949x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.15.07-AM-1-949x1024-1.png 949w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.15.07-AM-1-278x300-1.png 278w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.15.07-AM-1-768x829-1.png 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.15.07-AM-1.png 1186w\"><\/figure>\n<p>At one point, activists in the email exchange accidentally included one of the district\u2019s principals in their communication. The email thread quickly turned into a conversation about \u201cdamage control\u201d and whether the principal would illegally delete any evidence that parents were being targeted for wanting their children to learn in person. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"962\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.30.45-AM-1-962x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.30.45-AM-1-962x1024-1.png 962w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.30.45-AM-1-282x300-1.png 282w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.30.45-AM-1-768x818-1.png 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-9.30.45-AM-1.png 1206w\"><\/figure>\n<p>Allison Stratton \u2014 Parent Association co-founder, director of San Dieguito Union High School District, and one of the parents who signed onto a reopening lawsuit \u2014 told The Federalist that these activists contacted by Swinburn were known for working with the California Public Department of Health to cater to teachers unions wanting to keep kids at home. <\/p>\n<p>\u201c[The unions] don\u2019t want to see parents organizing against them,\u201d Stratton said. \u201cThey have their union shills, the groups that they\u2019re used to working with. In fact, I believe it\u2019s straight out of their playbook that they tell their local unions to find like-minded parents to do a lot of their work for them. They call them out of the PTAs, usually.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been more than a year since Swinburn\u2019s emails with activists, but Stratton said the California Teachers Association\u2019s pawns haven\u2019t stopped pushing the unions\u2019 agenda in schools.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow their game is to drive independent trustees off the board,\u201d Stratton explained, pointing to the coordinated effort to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sossandieguito.com\/why-recall.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recall<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sdamustang.com\/featured-stories\/2022\/04\/27\/a-frustrated-students-opinions-on-board-trustee-michael-allman\/?fbclid=IwAR2LxZffC9vR1er4Ma5z54HA93RaNIZCbM2KIWdU6e9g2DhUkbWvX1N8AAk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Allman<\/a> over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.encinitasadvocate.com\/news\/story\/2022-08-30\/san-dieguito-social-media-comments-on-pronouns-sparks-accusations-of-transphobia?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allegations of transphobia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The California Teachers Association did not respond to The Federalist\u2019s questions about Swinburn\u2019s exchange and what the association planned to do with the information it obtained about concerned parents. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ReopenCASchools\/status\/1567024242453278722?s=20&amp;t=IwC-dNv9fr90XTI62iyuVw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Old tweets<\/a>, however, now hidden behind Swinburn\u2019s private Twitter account, show the researcher\u2019s contempt for parents who want a say in their children\u2019s education. They also showcase her suspicion that grassroots parent movements are actually \u201can effort orchestrated by seasoned right-wing political operatives.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-container-4 wp-block-gallery-3 wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"487\" data-id=\"278800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-10.16.25-AM-1024x487-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-10.16.25-AM-1024x487-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-10.16.25-AM-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-10.16.25-AM-768x365-1.png 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-10.16.25-AM-1536x731-1.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-09-06-at-10.16.25-AM-2048x974-1.png 2048w\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Lance Christensen, a candidate running for superintendent of public instruction, <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1zfbY1ZVsEyZUpWLBFtXSoetl083B2EQdKzaqtOHLdj0\/edit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">condemned <\/a>the California Teachers Association\u2019s actions and lack of transparency. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe California Teachers Association has shown itself to be more of a spy agency than an advocate for kids and parents,\u201d Christensen told The Federalist.<\/p>\n<p>The California Teachers Association is not the only union guilty of singling out outspoken parents. CFT \u2014 an affiliate of the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/american-federation-of-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Federation of Teachers<\/a>, which is headed by <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/randi-weingarten\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Randi Weingarten<\/a> \u2014 and United Teachers Los Angeles, its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cft.org\/article\/time-stand-our-utla-brothers-and-sisters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sister union<\/a>, have also <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ReopenCASchools\/status\/1366975665212297217?s=20&amp;t=x5jZnvqo9gCCz994HKaHKw\">allegedly weaponized<\/a> research against parents who are in favor of reopening schools and spoke to the media. <\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration has also <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2021\/10\/21\/bidens-white-house-colluded-with-school-boards-association-to-launch-attack-on-parents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">admitted to colluding<\/a> with the National School Boards Association to silence parents who want a say in how their children are educated. <\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<p>\n  Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and co-producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire and Fox News. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @jordanboydtx.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-comments mt-30 mt-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-comments-container d-flex flex-column align-items-center py-30\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"110\" height=\"106\" src=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fdrlst-mark.svg\" class=\"img-fluid mb-20\" alt=\"The Federalist logo eagle mark\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p>Unlock commenting by joining the Federalist Community.<\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/plans\/pricing\/\" class=\"btn btn-on-white\">Subscribe<\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shortly after parents in California sued the state to reopen schools for their children to attend in-person learning, a California teachers union conducted opposition research on those parents. April<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":1634315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1634313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/490"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1634313"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634313\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1634315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1634313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1634313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1634313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}