'Incredible gaslighting': NYT op-ed draws backlash for portrayal of teachers union leader

[Sherman A1]

WASHINGTON (TND) — A New York Times op-ed is facing sharp criticism for questionable claims that the President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is working hard to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“But those who fault Weingarten for closed schools misunderstand the role she’s played over the past 20 months,” read a Dec. 17 editorial about AFT's President Randi Weingarten. “Rather than championing shutdowns, she’s spent much of her energy, both in public and behind the scenes, trying to get schools open.”

Critics argue the idea that Weingarten and AFT have been fighting to reopen schools, is the opposite of what has actually been occurring. "Incredible gaslighting," columnist Karol Markowicz said of the op-ed. Others called it "surreal" and were in disbelief over what they were reading.

"She spends 15 hours per day on the phone, she says — with local labor leaders, mayors, the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — trying to figure out how to reopen the three-quarters of school systems that remain fully or partially shuttered," read a separate February article about Weingarten from The NYT.

https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/incredible-gaslighting-nyt-op-ed-draws-backlash-for-portrayal-of-teachers-union-leader

[Scrivener7]

1. I don't get this. Most schools are already open.

[Caliman73]

2. That was an incredibly disjointed story...

Piss poor reporting, jamming in editorials with Tweets, and taking anything that Chris Rufo says seriously.

Opening schools has been a very precarious situation and continues to be so. There have been increases of spread in younger kids. Teachers face risks. The shutdown certainly showed how important the education system is to people, but again, we have assholes who are always willing to throw teachers under the bus, but fully utilize all of the extra care and help teacher are willing to provide.

Teachers aren't perfect, and Unions aren't perfect, but whenever there is some editorial or complaint about teachers and schools and Unions, I take it with a grain of salt.