Who expected the Biden team to stoop this low?
On Friday, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona expressed his views in a video interview with the Associated Press regarding the state of education in the United States. The discussion encompassed recent Supreme Court decisions on race-based admissions and President Biden’s initiatives to address student debt.
Cardona was asked by AP reporter Collin Binkley about his previous statements concerning the perceived threat to public education. Cardona responded by reflecting on his extensive 25-year career in education, including his time as a student in higher education. He remarked that the current situation in education is unlike anything he has witnessed before.
While Cardona emphasized his willingness to engage in constructive debates and welcomed differences of opinion, he made it clear that he does not hold respect for individuals who engage in disruptive behavior in public forums. He expressed nostalgia for a time when civil and respectful discussions were the norm, where disagreements could be addressed while keeping the best interests of children in mind.
In transcript provided by Fox, Cardona said that parents were “misbehaving in public and acting like they know what’s right for kids.”
Furthermore, Cardona criticized what he saw as hypocrisy among some individuals who oppose support for individuals burdened with student debt while benefiting from significant loan forgiveness themselves as elected officials. He underscored the importance of acknowledging this double standard in the conversation.
Cardona’s remarks drew significant attention on social media, where they were perceived by some as a criticism of parents who have voiced their concerns at school board meetings across the country. These parents have raised issues related to COVID mandates, book choices, and the inclusion of critical race theory in education.
Nicole Neily, President of Parents Defending Education, posted Cardona’s comments on social media to express her criticism of the education secretary. She accused him of dismissing the concerns of thousands of American parents actively participating in school board meetings.
It is important to note that the National School Boards Association (NSBA) previously sent a letter to President Biden in September 2021, requesting federal investigations into parents protesting at school board meetings. They alleged that school officials were facing threats and violence during these meetings. The NSBA’s original letter even suggested examining parents’ actions under the PATRIOT Act, a post-9/11 law designed to combat terrorism and enhance surveillance.
Following the NSBA’s letter, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI to establish a task force to address threats against school officials, as well as to create a centralized reporting mechanism for such threats.
Subsequently, the NSBA issued an apology for its letter and stated that it would not make similar requests in the future. Additionally, the House Judiciary Committee released a report alleging that the Biden administration, in collaboration with the NSBA, had “misused” its authority in investigating parents involved in school board meetings.
WATCH:
🚨Secretary Cardona openly dismissed thousands of American parents who have been speaking out at school board meetings:
“I don’t have too much respect for people that are misbehaving in public and acting like they know what’s right for kids.” pic.twitter.com/QafoiKwAdB
— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) September 22, 2023