Protecting failing schools and supporting teachers unions is not a winnable strategy, CEO warns
Democrats’ reliance on teachers union support and allegiance to underperforming public school systems is a losing political strategy, according to Tommy Schultz, CEO of the conservative advocacy group American Federation for Children (AFC).
Key points
- "It's not a winning message at the end of the day." MEMBER OF LARGEST TEACHERS UNION IN US CLAIMS ORG IS 'NO LONGER FOCUSED ON CHILDREN,' ONLY 'POLITICAL POWER' Teachers unions consistently oppose many school choice initiatives supported by advocacy organizations like the AFC.
- Financial analyses indicate the nation's two largest teachers unions — the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in political activism, lobbying and progressive advocacy over the past decade.
- Democratic candidates in gubernatorial, congressional and state legislative races routinely back education platforms aligned with teachers unions.
"At the end of the day, when you look at the long-term trends here for the teachers unions, they're in a pickle because more and more folks are listening to the politicians that have a vibrant education agenda," Schultz told Fox News Digital.
Additional details
- "The teachers unions, they bring in about $3 billion a year for the teachers unions — the two national unions and their affiliates.
- While the NEA and AFT rank among the largest financial contributors to Democratic campaigns, both organizations have occasionally supported select Republican candidates in rural districts who advocated for state aid for underfunded public schools.
- WATCHDOG REPORT EXPOSES TEACHERS UNION 'POLITICAL MACHINE' FUNNELING MORE THAN $1 BILLION TO LIBERAL CAUSES However, recent Democratic wins in key state races could create headwinds for the school choice movement.
- "What we found over the last chunk of years is that when you actually bring a message of pro-school choice policies and a brighter vision of education — of what could happen to public schools and for families controlling their child's….
- Tensions between unions and parents have intensified in recent years, fueled by concerns over learning loss after pandemic-era school closures.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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