American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten was castigated on X (formerly Twitter) after she questioned why homeschooling was growing in the United States. Weingarten posted an Axios article which, she says, explains “What’s behind the increase in homeschooling.”
“Homeschooling is now the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S.,” Axios reported, citing a Washington Post analysis. The Axios article framed the growth of homeschooling as a symptom of parental dissatisfaction with schooling during the pandemic, as “Zoom school was a complete and total failure for them and their families.” Other aspects raised in the article include the desire of parents to tailor education to suit them in a fashion not otherwise possible in public schools.
A number of X users chimed in with some explanations of their own.
Evolutionary biologist Colin Wright tweeted a picture of a “genderbread person” while quipping “I've identified a suspect, although according to them suspects should be able to identify themselves.” As Fox has previously reported, the Genderbread Person is one of the methods in which public schools have attempted to inculcate gender ideology among students.
The Manhattan Institute’s Ilya Shapiro was more straightforward, telling Weingarten that the reason for the growth of homeschooling is “the policies you’ve advocated, Covid-related and otherwise. Just like you’re behind much of the increased support for school choice and educational freedom. Congratulations!”
Indeed, if the pandemic and Zoom schooling are responsible for parents choosing to jump ship from the public school system, Randi Weingarten played a significant role in facilitating that outcome.
Weingarten was called to account last month when she claimed that she had always been in favor of reopening schools. Social media users took her to task, noting that she had characterized then-President Donald Trump’s attempts to reopen schools as “reckless, callous [and] cruel.” The New York Post also reported that Weingarten spoke with the director of the Centers for Disease Control just before the agency announced in February 2021 that it was restricting the opening of in-person classes.
In truth, if Weingarten is looking for a genuine explanation for the increasing popularity of homeschooling, she would do well to look within.