The president of the country’s largest teachers union was mocked for a “totally unhinged” speech in which she shouted about winning “all the things.”
Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association (NEA), banged on the podium, waved her arms, and laughed out loud as she shouted about social justice last week at the union’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly in Philadelphia.
Teachers union president Becky Pringle lets the mask slip admitting they “organize for POWER.” https://t.co/8nJtotJ8vr
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) July 8, 2024
If you had any doubts about the priorities of teachers unions, just watch this bizarre speech by NEA President Becky Pringle.
Believe it or not this isn’t from the Democratic National Convention — it’s the NEA annual convention. pic.twitter.com/W8lDsqFG2T
— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) July 8, 2024
During her speech, which frequently departed from her published prepared remarks, Pringle vowed that the union would “reclaim” public education.
“But you and I know we can’t stop there,” she said. “We have to transform it into something it was never designed to be — a racially and socially just and equitable system that prepares every student! Every student! Every student! Every one! With conviction and commitment.”
Pringle also reaffirmed the NEA’s opposition to school choice.
“With determination and defiance, we will protect public education,” she said. “We will fight privatization. We will fight vouchers. We will fight any and all schemes to drain resources from our beloved public schools!”
Pringle also railed against former President Donald Trump, as well as what she called a “stacked” Supreme Court.
“We worked hard to rid ourselves of a tyrannical, deceitful, and corrupt White House. We did. But the reality is that the seeds that were sown during that horrible season continue to germinate,” Pringle said.
“Today, they sprout as vitriol toward our profession, increased marginalization of black, brown, AAPI, and Indigenous communities, rising hatred toward our LGBTQ+ siblings,” she said. “The seeds of hate manifest themselves as attacks against our freedom to teach and our students’ freedom to learn. They’ve mushroomed into poisonous spores of a stacked Supreme Court — one that continues to render decisions that attack, diminish, and disregard the needs and lived experiences of far too many Americans.”
“Our students are depending on us to win all the things,” Pringle said. “All the things! All the things! All the things!”
“Did I say we ain’t going back? Ain’t going back!” she added.
“Like Harvey Milk, we will stand in our authenticity!” Pringle said. “Like Cesar Chavez, we will practice relentless activism!”
On social media, critics compared Pringle’s exuberant remarks to a famous scene with Dwight Schrute on the hit television show The Office, a scene that was based on actual speeches by famous Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
School choice advocate Corey DeAngelis called Pringle’s speech “off-the-rails” and said she “pulled a Dwight Schrute.”
“These power-hungry control freaks think they own your kids. They’re in a cult that worships government and detests parents. It’s time to defund teachers unions and allow the money to follow the child,” DeAngelis told Fox News. “Becky Pringle pulled a Dwight Schrute. She is off-the-rails and desperate to maintain control over the minds of other people’s children.”
DeAngelis added on X that Pringle let the “mask slip” in admitting union members “organize for POWER.”
Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, also criticized Pringle.
“If you had any doubts about the priorities of teachers unions, just watch this bizarre speech by NEA President Becky Pringle. Believe it or not this isn’t from the Democratic National Convention — it’s the NEA annual convention,” Neily said.
Pringle delivered a similar speech last year that was also panned as over the top.
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[[{“value”:”
The president of the country’s largest teachers union was mocked for a “totally unhinged” speech in which she shouted about winning “all the things.”
Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association (NEA), banged on the podium, waved her arms, and laughed out loud as she shouted about social justice last week at the union’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly in Philadelphia.
Teachers union president Becky Pringle lets the mask slip admitting they “organize for POWER.” https://t.co/8nJtotJ8vr
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) July 8, 2024
If you had any doubts about the priorities of teachers unions, just watch this bizarre speech by NEA President Becky Pringle.
Believe it or not this isn’t from the Democratic National Convention — it’s the NEA annual convention. pic.twitter.com/W8lDsqFG2T
— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) July 8, 2024
During her speech, which frequently departed from her published prepared remarks, Pringle vowed that the union would “reclaim” public education.
“But you and I know we can’t stop there,” she said. “We have to transform it into something it was never designed to be — a racially and socially just and equitable system that prepares every student! Every student! Every student! Every one! With conviction and commitment.”
Pringle also reaffirmed the NEA’s opposition to school choice.
“With determination and defiance, we will protect public education,” she said. “We will fight privatization. We will fight vouchers. We will fight any and all schemes to drain resources from our beloved public schools!”
Pringle also railed against former President Donald Trump, as well as what she called a “stacked” Supreme Court.
“We worked hard to rid ourselves of a tyrannical, deceitful, and corrupt White House. We did. But the reality is that the seeds that were sown during that horrible season continue to germinate,” Pringle said.
“Today, they sprout as vitriol toward our profession, increased marginalization of black, brown, AAPI, and Indigenous communities, rising hatred toward our LGBTQ+ siblings,” she said. “The seeds of hate manifest themselves as attacks against our freedom to teach and our students’ freedom to learn. They’ve mushroomed into poisonous spores of a stacked Supreme Court — one that continues to render decisions that attack, diminish, and disregard the needs and lived experiences of far too many Americans.”
“Our students are depending on us to win all the things,” Pringle said. “All the things! All the things! All the things!”
“Did I say we ain’t going back? Ain’t going back!” she added.
“Like Harvey Milk, we will stand in our authenticity!” Pringle said. “Like Cesar Chavez, we will practice relentless activism!”
On social media, critics compared Pringle’s exuberant remarks to a famous scene with Dwight Schrute on the hit television show The Office, a scene that was based on actual speeches by famous Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
School choice advocate Corey DeAngelis called Pringle’s speech “off-the-rails” and said she “pulled a Dwight Schrute.”
“These power-hungry control freaks think they own your kids. They’re in a cult that worships government and detests parents. It’s time to defund teachers unions and allow the money to follow the child,” DeAngelis told Fox News. “Becky Pringle pulled a Dwight Schrute. She is off-the-rails and desperate to maintain control over the minds of other people’s children.”
DeAngelis added on X that Pringle let the “mask slip” in admitting union members “organize for POWER.”
Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, also criticized Pringle.
“If you had any doubts about the priorities of teachers unions, just watch this bizarre speech by NEA President Becky Pringle. Believe it or not this isn’t from the Democratic National Convention — it’s the NEA annual convention,” Neily said.
Pringle delivered a similar speech last year that was also panned as over the top.
“}]]
