Image Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images 
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten was widely criticized for traipsing to Ukraine acting as a government diplomat while U.S. schools continue to struggle in the wake of prolonged COVID policies.
The group went “to offer solidarity and support in the face of relentless attacks that have forced hundreds of thousands of refugees to flee the country’s east,” according to a press release from the AFT.
“The AFT was invited by the Ukrainian teachers union, the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers, to bear witness and call attention to the effects on children, families and educators and the impact of Russia’s attacks on democracy and democratic institutions,” the press release explained.
In a video posted to Twitter, Weingarten said the AFT stands “in solidarity with the educators, students and families in Ukraine” as Putin takes a “blowtorch to democracy.”
AFT President @rweingarten is in Ukraine today at the invitation of the Ukrainian teachers union. This is part of the continued work our union has done to support Ukrainian teachers and students during this war. pic.twitter.com/vZpzeAS1iL
— AFT (@AFTunion) October 10, 2022
“They are fighting against Russian aggression to uphold their democracy, their freedom and their self-determination—and after nearly eight months of conflict their righteous resistance grows stronger each day.”
She added that she was heading to the Ukraine border to “assess the situation.”
“Woke up this am to reports of disgusting Russian missile strikes in Kyiv, Lviv & other cities,” Weingarten tweeted Monday morning. “Heading to the border now to assess the situation. This Russian attempt to frighten civilians & the effect on children (who are learning online today) is why this [Ukraine flag emoji] trip is so important.”
Woke up this am to reports of disgusting Russian missile strikes in Kyiv, Lviv & other cities.Heading to the border now to assess the situation. This Russian attempt to frighten civilians & the effect on children (who are learning online today) is why this
trip is so important https://t.co/dUVOxsdwRQ
— Randi Weingarten
(@rweingarten) October 10, 2022
Crossing into #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/qNIzmMduvC
— Randi Weingarten
While Weingarten is live-action role playing as a State Department diplomat paid for by union dues, the U.S. school system has been struggling for months in the wake of prolonged COVID lockdowns and other restrictive measures, which resulted in national student scores plummeting to the lowest level in decades.
From USAFacts.org:
The math scores of 9-year-olds nationwide dropped for the first time ever, accompanied by the largest average drop in reading scores since 1990, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
The average scores for 9-year-old students in 2022 declined five points in reading and seven points in math compared with 2020, according to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
These devastating figures likely explain why Weingarten’s wannabe-diplomat antics prompted widespread criticism on social media.
Reminder that Randi Weingarten held up an upsidedown Ukrainian flag because she had no idea what the flag looked like before the conflict. pic.twitter.com/u63QkTSggs
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 10, 2022
Why is the president of the American Federation of Teachers in Ukraine while our kids’ schools are failing? https://t.co/C9MiFEwpGS
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) October 10, 2022
What business does the teachers’ union boss have heading to the Russia/Ukraine border?
And since when has anyone in her role had the job description to “assess” active war zones?
Unreal @rweingarten. https://t.co/hiG7qfWXT6
— Shukri Abdirahman (@ShuForCongress) October 10, 2022
Why is the leader of a teacher’s union trying to assess the situation?
And what the hell is she doing in Ukraine? Lmao this is what teachers are paying union dues for? Randi to have a vacation in a war zone? https://t.co/TXVfafQSxE— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 10, 2022
This is all so strange.
But Randi already played the role of CDC Director, maybe Biden’s prepping her to play Secretary of State too. https://t.co/lUeteChKnr
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 10, 2022
America’s students need you on the front lines of K-12.
Here’s a crisis you should feel compelled to address: math and literacy proficiency plummeted this year due to school closures you supported. You desert children when you put union politics and other issues above education. https://t.co/kd2F71OucR
— Caroline Downey (@carolinedowney_) October 10, 2022
“To assess the situation.” Er, why? https://t.co/pbT83GVGfD
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) October 10, 2022
If Weingarten cared about American students almost as much as she appears to care about Ukrainian students, perhaps the U.S. education system would not be floundering as much as it is.
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