AFT’s Weingarten on Trump’s Assault on Educators and Vulnerable Kids

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the Trump administration released the text of a divisive executive order targeting educators and their students:

“I have the honor of representing hundreds of thousands of educators. They are proud, patriotic Americans who work hard and believe in our country’s founding principles of justice, equality, democracy and opportunity for all of God’s children, whether white or Black, straight or gay, Native American or the Latino immigrant who just escaped tyranny.

“Public schools are foundational to opportunity and dignity for everyone who steps inside our classrooms. That’s who we are as educators—and it’s unfortunate the Trump administration would pretend otherwise with this executive order. It not only unfairly tarnishes teachers, it makes it harder to do our jobs.

“We want to work with any administration. All we ask in return is to help us help every child gain the skills and experiences they need to navigate a diverse and complex world. Today is a sad day because the Trump administration is doing exactly what it accuses others of: creating division and fear in classrooms across America.”