Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently criticized American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and teachers' unions, claiming they pose a significant threat to the U.S. Weingarten responded to Pompeo's remarks and addressed the learning loss resulting from COVID-19 school closures in a New York Times interview.
Weingarten, who leads the AFT, the second-largest teachers union in the nation, dismissed Pompeo's statement as an attempt to instill fear and gain political advantage. Pompeo had criticized the content taught in schools, referring to it as "filth," and expressed concern over declining math and reading skills among students. Weingarten took offense at Pompeo's characterization of teachers' instruction, arguing that efforts to promote inclusivity are often met with accusations of "grooming" or "pedophilia."
The New York Times interview also touched upon the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, which revealed the steepest decline in reading scores since 1990 and the first decline in math scores since 1989. Weingarten acknowledged the learning loss caused by the pandemic, retracting her previous statement denying its existence. She asserted, however, that the Los Angeles Unified School District, which remained closed longer than any other district nationwide, performed better than schools in Florida. This claim was disputed by Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, who labeled it as another "falsehood" propagated by Weingarten.
Weingarten defended her actions during the pandemic, as well as those of Dr. Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, arguing that they were navigating an unprecedented situation. She placed blame on "disinformation agents," including some state governors, for contributing to the confusion and conflicting guidance faced by teachers and parents. Additionally, Weingarten attributed the decline in social studies scores to the prevailing "culture wars," claiming that teachers are hesitant to discuss current events due to the contentious political climate.
Neily criticized Weingarten's disconnect from the concerns of parents, pointing to the migration of families to states like Florida, seeking better educational opportunities and choices.
