Prior to 2021, no state had universal school choice. However, in the last three years, eleven states have implemented this crucial policy change. This progress is significant, and more victories for children in America are on the horizon. The push for school choice has been fueled by the actions of power-hungry teachers unions, whose mishandling of school closures during the pandemic sparked a parent revolution.
The closures mandated by teachers unions had severe negative effects on students academically, mentally, and emotionally, with little impact on Covid-19 transmission or child mortality rates. Parents were understandably angry at the public schools for failing them in their time of need, and they refused to accept the situation passively.
In response to parents advocating for more control over their children’s education, the unions attacked them, rather than addressing the real issues at hand. In various instances, unions accused parents of racism and white supremacy for wanting schools to reopen, a stark departure from the original meaning of these terms. The unions painted parents as the enemy, all while ignoring the detrimental effects of prolonged school closures on students, particularly minority students.
The unions also engaged in tactics such as spying on parents and conducting opposition research on groups trying to provide alternative educational options during lockdowns. Instead of embracing innovation, the unions sought to undermine these initiatives out of fear of losing control.
Despite union efforts to suppress alternative education models like microschools, state legislatures saw through their tactics and allowed these initiatives to grow. The unions’ hypocrisy was evident in their contradictory claims about the safety of in-person instruction and the safety of alternative education models.
Overall, the actions of the unions have galvanized parents to advocate for their children’s education. This shift represents a significant change in the K-12 education landscape, with parents now standing up as a powerful voice for their children’s educational needs.
