Leaders of the two largest teachers’ unions in the country took the stage Monday at the Democratic National Convention to attack Donald Trump, but not over his proposed education policies.
Instead, they focused on immigration, inequality and Trump’s ethical lapses.
Lily Eskelsen Garcia, head of the National Education Association, spoke about the effect of Trump’s rhetoric on immigrant families. “They tell us they’re afraid that their parents might be taken away. That they might be deported for not having the right piece of paper.”
Striking a contrast, Eskelsen Garcia spoke about Clinton’s priorities. “Hillary Clinton believes in keeping families together, she believes in our DREAMers, she believes an educator should be focused on education not deportation. Donald Trump sees things differently. … Donald Trump sees immigrants as criminals, as drug dealers, as rapists. He says he’d round up families and deport them.”
The immigration issue is personal for Eskelsen Garcia, whose mother immigrated to the United States from Panama.
“We’re building bridges to a future where Hillary Clinton is president of the United States of America,” Eskelsen Garcia closed.
A few speakers later came Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers. “Every day was full of hate and bigotry,” Weingarten said of the Republican National Convention. She proceeded to claim Trump has unfair business practices, reminded viewers Trump has bankrupted four companies and said Trump’s policies would enrich millionaires but not workers.
Weingarten touched on Trump University, using it as a point to challenge Trump’s ethics. “Instead of an education, students lost thousands of dollars and got nothing in return. That’s Trump in a nutshell.”
Weingarten also took time to spell out Clinton’s education policies. “It starts with public education from pre-K to college. She has a plan for universal early childhood education. She’ll reset education policy to focus on creativity and critical thinking, not on more testing. And she’ll make public universities free for working families.”
“The choice couldn’t be clearer,” Weingarten closed. “We must elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine.”
The NEA has 3 million members, making it the largest single labor union in the country. The AFT has 1.6 million members.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
