Hail to the Chief … of the Teachers Union? – Opinion

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It seems every other week, another teachers’ union or school district reveals its true narcissistic nature and willingness to hold children and parents hostage to their political and personal preferences.

The Freedom Foundation has exposed numerous examples from coast to coast of teachers’ unions trying to delay a return to normalcy from New York City, to Chicago, to Los Angeles.

Parents have already filed emergency orders in federal court this year to stop public schools’ attempts to move back to remote learning in New Jersey and Michigan. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot continued to hammer the Chicago Teachers Union until she found an excuse for them to return to the bargaining tables and go back to school while they work out other demands.

This weekend was the Virginia governor’s birthday. Glenn Youngkin’s swearing in and executive order banning school mask mandates and returning the choice of masking children where it belongs (with the parents), the leftist D.C. suburbs of Arlington County, Fairfax County and Alexandria City public schools released statements announcing their mask mandates would remain in place, regardless of the Commonwealth’s new leadership.

Where did these school districts and teachers’ unions get such hubris?

They were inspired by someone or something to think they could make policy decisions that would have a profound impact on the lives of millions.

Unfortunately, it is the unelected technocrats or bureaucrats that create national policy.

We all know by now that the Centers for Disease Control took its marching orders on school reopening from Randi Weingarten and the American Federation of Teachers, the country’s second-largest teachers’ union.

Just last week, we learned that the infamous letter from the National School Boards Association asking the FBI for help against what it deemed the “dangerous threat” of angry parents at school board meetings originated from Joe Biden’s Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona.

Within hours, Americans found out that Big Tech had been called in to silence parental concerns about Critical Race Theory. The directive was issued by the National Education Association.

But one event last week perhaps showcased better than most what fuels this extreme arrogance on the part of teachers’ union leaders and their activist minions in the public school system, and that was a disgusting, groveling speech U.S. During an American Federation of Teachers webinar, Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General of India gave a speech to representatives and teachers.

This transcript is available in full. You may also view the video, starting at 21 minutes.

(Murthy to Randi Weingarten)

“You’ve done so much for our country over the last couple of years, really helping us understand how to take care of our kids during this difficult time. So, I appreciate your leadership, your friendship, your partnership and for everything you’re doing for our children.”

(Murthy to AFT webinar attendees

“And to everyone who’s listening today, I just want to thank each of you for being with us and for everything you have done to protect our kids and make sure that they are learning over the last two years.

“There’s something I’ve always felt that both medicine and education have in common, and that is that both professions are truly a calling, and what sets a calling apart in the professional landscape is that whenever we are called, especially when it’s scary, or hard, or unprecedented, we answer that call, and that’s exactly what you’ve done everyday in the classroom through your work with children.

“You’ve been extraordinary leaders and partners in ensuring that our kids have a safe and supportive learning environment.

“You and your peers answered the call during this pandemic, there’s no doubt about that. That made an already hard job even harder. I know that and I so appreciate you for it.”

The Surgeon General of the United States addressed the president of a teachers’ union as though she were a head of state — and the AFT members as though they had the Midas touch.

Even worse,

“We will not forget your service, your bravery and your sacrifice, and when we do make it through the other side of this pandemic, we will continue to have your back as you recover and heal.

“So, thank you again, and really looking forward to the conversation that Randi and I are going to have.”

Do you need to heal yourself (teachers?

Never mind that children in school districts run by these teachers’ unions have been set back years in academic potential, or that we’re in the midst of a mental health crisis among children as young as elementary school, and substance abuse and suicide attempts are on the rise in numbers we’ve never before seen.

The teachers’ union activists have the praise, admiration and obedience of the country’s highest-ranking leaders. And it goes without saying that when enough people in positions of power defer to you on decision-making and execution, you’ll begin to act like you’re in charge.

That’s why we’ve begun referring to her as President Randi Weingarten.