Teachers unions across the country have emerged as power players in President Joe Biden’s administration, wielding near-absolute authority over school reopenings and mask mandates. The pandemic exposed just how much control teachers unions have and how the best interests of students have played second fiddle to their own.
This year, the unions had the ear of Biden, courtesy of first lady Jill Biden, an educator and member of the National Education Association, the country’s largest teacher union, which boasts more than 3 million members. Through this connection and others, teachers unions were given seats at the table during discussions at the White House and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When they didn’t get what they wanted, they threw tantrums, staged sickouts, and padded their list of outrageous must-do ultimatums, holding the education of millions of schoolchildren hostage.
As their antics increased, the public’s patience began wearing thin.