Teachers union leader Randi Weingarten on why Trump fears educators, how the Democratic Party has to change, and why A.I. will transform learning itself
Thank you. Thank you to all our teachers. Excellent sharing of wisdom and knowledge and insight. Community ~ we the people ~ we keep the courage to hope.
Best ideas I have heard all week, all month, all summer. Super clear and inspiring. Thank you so much for this interview. You've raised my spirits and my sense of hope today. I'm recommending everybody I know listen to this interview. Thank you Anand and Randi.
That was an excellent conversation. Randi- thank you. Such excellent , clear and heartfelt inspiration- love, the Psalms. And fight from the position you have and your sense of agency. Excellent!
I have an education story...when I was in 8th grade, I was in a class that was teaching about the sinking of The Lusitania by the Germans during the second world war. The instruction was split over two days on this topic. The teacher had gone on and on about what an awful thing this was for the Germans to do. I asked my mother about it when she picked us up from school and she said, "Well, yes that's true but that's only part of the story. The U.S. had not yet entered the war and was shipping arms to the allies on passenger ships against the rules of war and the Germans knew this and warned the U.S. over and over to stop doing so. The Germans suspected that there were arms on board The Lusitania and handed out pamphlets on the dock to the passengers telling them the ship would be blown up. Nobody believed that the Germans would actually carry that threat out, but they did in fact torpedo the ship and it was carrying arms. The next day, when the teacher started in again about what happened, I raised my hand and said, "Isn't it true that..." repeating what my mother had told me. There was dead silence in the room and the teacher mumbled something incoherent and tried to continue on, but I remained standing and said, "Excuse me...why aren't you answering my question." Only then did the teacher admit that it was indeed what had happened. In other words, yes...the Germans had sunk a passenger liner but they had arguably valid reasons for doing so. That doesn't mean it wasn't a tragedy, but it does bring a more full understanding to events that need to be understood from all viewpoints and angles if we are to learn what war really means and the potential consequences of our actions and reactions. That is supposed to be what "school" does for us. I have experienced many, many other instances where teachers provided much more balanced views, but like Randi was saying, it is a two way street between teachers and students. An alchemy that is essential to real learning.
I've known of Randi Weingarten for many years but had never heard an interview this long with her. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for having her on, Anand.
Both of parents where Teachers Father taught Special Education and talked to Parents and Community Groups…Back in the 50s and 60s My mother taught High School students in Detroit 60 s and 80s Both Navy both used GI Bill Education programs to become teachers and Yes they where Union members .
RW recognizes the reality that for Dems to compete, Dems should not turn away donations from billionaires like staunch Dem Reid Hoffman. Circular firing squads & "principled" exclusions is self defeating. Big tent democracy advocacy must defeat tight wing authoritarianism. #Resist & #VoteDem
It's a shame how undervalued we are as teachers, we nurture the early minds and lives of the nation's kids, at every level. Our jobs are increasingly controlled by management of some kind who have no idea what we do in creating good people for a future we envision; for humanity not profit or ideological power
I am sharing your conversation with teachers I know and FB Feed ,other Social Media.
Thank You Both for your presentation on Substack
Thank you. Thank you to all our teachers. Excellent sharing of wisdom and knowledge and insight. Community ~ we the people ~ we keep the courage to hope.
A race between hope and fear—I love that! Thank you for this terrific conversation.
Best ideas I have heard all week, all month, all summer. Super clear and inspiring. Thank you so much for this interview. You've raised my spirits and my sense of hope today. I'm recommending everybody I know listen to this interview. Thank you Anand and Randi.
Important conversation. I needed this cohesiveness, this clear image of where we are going, what we have to do and why this is important.
OMG, this woman is amazing! And your questions were so incisive, Anand. Thank you so much for this great interview.
That was an excellent conversation. Randi- thank you. Such excellent , clear and heartfelt inspiration- love, the Psalms. And fight from the position you have and your sense of agency. Excellent!
Great dynamic between you.
Namaste
I have an education story...when I was in 8th grade, I was in a class that was teaching about the sinking of The Lusitania by the Germans during the second world war. The instruction was split over two days on this topic. The teacher had gone on and on about what an awful thing this was for the Germans to do. I asked my mother about it when she picked us up from school and she said, "Well, yes that's true but that's only part of the story. The U.S. had not yet entered the war and was shipping arms to the allies on passenger ships against the rules of war and the Germans knew this and warned the U.S. over and over to stop doing so. The Germans suspected that there were arms on board The Lusitania and handed out pamphlets on the dock to the passengers telling them the ship would be blown up. Nobody believed that the Germans would actually carry that threat out, but they did in fact torpedo the ship and it was carrying arms. The next day, when the teacher started in again about what happened, I raised my hand and said, "Isn't it true that..." repeating what my mother had told me. There was dead silence in the room and the teacher mumbled something incoherent and tried to continue on, but I remained standing and said, "Excuse me...why aren't you answering my question." Only then did the teacher admit that it was indeed what had happened. In other words, yes...the Germans had sunk a passenger liner but they had arguably valid reasons for doing so. That doesn't mean it wasn't a tragedy, but it does bring a more full understanding to events that need to be understood from all viewpoints and angles if we are to learn what war really means and the potential consequences of our actions and reactions. That is supposed to be what "school" does for us. I have experienced many, many other instances where teachers provided much more balanced views, but like Randi was saying, it is a two way street between teachers and students. An alchemy that is essential to real learning.
I've known of Randi Weingarten for many years but had never heard an interview this long with her. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for having her on, Anand.
I love what you said about the alchemy between people being so important, crucial to human development.
Both of parents where Teachers Father taught Special Education and talked to Parents and Community Groups…Back in the 50s and 60s My mother taught High School students in Detroit 60 s and 80s Both Navy both used GI Bill Education programs to become teachers and Yes they where Union members .
RW recognizes the reality that for Dems to compete, Dems should not turn away donations from billionaires like staunch Dem Reid Hoffman. Circular firing squads & "principled" exclusions is self defeating. Big tent democracy advocacy must defeat tight wing authoritarianism. #Resist & #VoteDem
Brava!!!
good trouble, thanks
thanks Randi Weingarten, you nailed it so well
It's a shame how undervalued we are as teachers, we nurture the early minds and lives of the nation's kids, at every level. Our jobs are increasingly controlled by management of some kind who have no idea what we do in creating good people for a future we envision; for humanity not profit or ideological power