Teachers' union president says students need to 'get their mojo back' as NYT reports how many kids have dropped out of school

The beginning of a New York Times reporter’s thread on the disaster that has resulted in the ongoing (in many areas) suspension of in-person learning contains an estimate about how many kids have dropped out of school:

1/ Three million. That's the estimate of how many children have dropped out of school as a result of the pandemic. To see in slow motion what it's like when a child falls behind, @tamirbenkalifa & I spent a week with 11-year-old Jordyn as he tried to learn https://t.co/bdQVo6SQBN

— Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) May 5, 2021

And the pandemic has been the excuse, but the reason this has happened is because of teachers’ unions and Democrats.

This is insane. We are failing millions of kids, mostly kids who were already at risk, because teachers unions want to use their lives and educations as a bargaining chip. And they have the nerve to say they have the kids’ best interests at heart. https://t.co/Ct6QYTKz5Q

— Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) May 5, 2021

Teachers unions saying they’re doing this “for the children” is a total crock.

This story is sickening. Shame on this country for allowing bureaucrats to endanger our children. https://t.co/LFFiwC0Rup

— Perry Williams (@pswilli1) May 5, 2021

History will judge how we treated kids during this pandemic. And it ain't gonna be pretty. https://t.co/2g5fpjtLR5

— Andrea Howe (@andreavhowe) May 5, 2021

You forgot to tag @rweingarten the glorified babysitter in chief. https://t.co/0E6HY3BcTI

— President Elect (((Stewie Griffin))) (@stewie08701) May 5, 2021

This thread. Heartbreaking. Dems did this. CDC did this. Biden did this. Unions and Randi Weingarten did this. Elites against school choice did this.

The rich, entitled liberals sent their kids to private school in person, while advocating for lockdowns and school closures. https://t.co/nMpBc3HBWM

— 🧡🌅🤙🏼🏄🏻‍♀️ (@patriotbchbum) May 5, 2021

Great thread ⤵️
We’ve been saying this for a year but those shouting to close everything indefinitely didn’t care about kids like Jordyn or moms like Precious. All that mattered to them was their fears and anxieties were assuaged. Such a shame. https://t.co/2Hv0yvYT7D

— that cactus girl 🌵 (@cactusncookies) May 5, 2021

Unreal. The government wants a population of citizens totally dependent on welfare checks, food stamps, unemployment and Medicaid. https://t.co/VWoqF4X5O0

— Jay Legend (@JayBelize23) May 5, 2021

Meanwhile, platitudes & BS from AFT President and Randi Weingarten:

I don’t have to tell you how challenging #COVID19 has made this school year. But we have the chance & the obligation to reopen, recover, & reimagine education to serve every child’s needs. Thank you @EdWriters for inviting me to this panel today. #EWA21 https://t.co/TYb3FyWJaM

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) May 5, 2021

This pandemic laid bare how important schools are to communities, and not just for learning. It’s also shown us the importance of collaboration & building trust in our neighborhoods, to #ReopenSafely and get kids the tools they need to thrive. #EWA21 https://t.co/DkteFSVtlw

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) May 5, 2021

So what are our next steps? We need to keep testing, vaccinating, & mitigating against #COVID19. We also have to do the work to create confidence in schools and to build enriching, joyful learning environments for kids to get their mojo back. #EWA21 https://t.co/csKjng3F2E

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) May 5, 2021

While lives are being destroyed, schools are being asked to “reimagine our accountability systems”:

We need to marry passion & purpose purpose , that will require reimagining our accountability systems to assess not just whether a student has learned their math problems, but to assess the full breadth of their mastery & engagement. #EWA21 https://t.co/17LYF0Cw3Z

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) May 5, 2021

Finally, I think we must come together and collaborate at the local and national levels to combat misinformation, end polarization, and find long-term solutions to help students reach their fullest potentials. I’m optimistic we can get this done. #EWA21 https://t.co/ErbH3i54hE

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) May 5, 2021

Does that all make it sound like this has anything to do with Covid-19 anymore? Oh, and speaking of accountability…