Ohio Teachers’ Unions Respond to Adversity with Opportunism

Ohio Teachers’ Unions Respond to Adversity with Opportunism

Ohio Teachers’ Unions Respond to Adversity with Opportunism

Some of history’s most referenced quotes were uttered by Winston Churchill, including, “If you’re going through hell, keep going,” and, “Never, never, never give up.” 

Sage advice, spoken during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. But even during those bleak days, Mr. Churchill knew the entire free world was counting on ordinary people to be brave. To be bold. To show up.  

In January 2022, the free world is no less dependent on ordinary people to show up, to press on. It’s obvious when you go to a café for lunch. Your sandwich takes 20 minutes longer, costs more and arrives without the side of chips.  

It’s obvious when you go to the grocery and the shelves are empty. It’s obvious when Christmas presents are just now arriving on your doorstep a month late.  

No doubt life was uncertain, scary and exhausting as Churchill led all of Europe away from the certain oppression of tyranny. No doubt life will be uncertain, scary and exhausting as we deal with a continuing global pandemic.  

Our grandparents knew the dysfunction had to be conquered and overcome. “Keep calm and carry on” was the saying.  

For the union bosses at the Columbus Education Association, however, this is the time to consolidate their power over our children and our collective future.

To cite one example, they’re hoping to close Columbus City Schools for the rest of January.  

The Centers for Disease Control has repeatedly said, “(S)chools should be the first to open and the last to close.”

Yet according to the Columbus Education Association, the proliferation of the new Omicron variant of Covid is, “…causing teachers and staff a great amount of stress and anxiety because they don’t know which learning model they are going to be teaching…”

The mass emergence of a more-easily-transmitted but less-deadly mutation of the virus actually makes the schools safer to operate in than before. But it also presents a golden opportunity for opportunistic teachers’ unions and the politicians they control to start fearmongering all over again.

Granted, working around even a less-serious strain of Covid is certainly not optimal. There will be disruptions. But there is no just making do, taking it one day at a time.

Where would we be if our grandparents and the good people of Britain had labor unions undermining the courage of Churchill in the 1940s? Where will we be if every American chooses not to show up to work for the next two weeks to avoid stress and inconvenience?

And how many of these union bosses trapping educators, parents and kids at home will feel the same burden of a shuttered society when their latte arrives 30 minutes later minus the oat milk? Completely forget about the avocado toast.  

With these recent school closures, it sure feels like everything in America is toast. Kids can’t learn. Parents can’t work.  

But thanks to the arrogance of the Columbus Education Association boss hogs, at least educators will get a two-week reprieve while displaced students continue to deal with the real epidemic caused by two years’ worth of enforced distance learning — lower test scores, reduced motivation, depression, substance abuse and even suicide.  

As for Columbus City School employees, who are tired of the whining and complaining, the majority who just want to be there for families and the kids they have devoted their lives to serve.  

If you’re ashamed of how your union is using the students you care about so deeply as nothing but pawns in their scheme to advance a radical leftist political agenda, it’s time to send a message they’ll feel on their bottom line.

With the Freedom Foundation’s help, you can stand up for your students as well as yourself by telling your union you’re through subsidizing its rogue, irresponsible behavior.

Ohio Director
lbowen@freedomfoundation.com
Lauren is a lifelong Ohio resident and calls Cincinnati home. After earning a master’s degree in international politics from Wright State University in 2014, she led an innovative, first of its kind, digital government accountability and transparency project, called the Ohio Checkbook. Through that leadership experience Lauren developed a fierce determination to undermine government corruption. She has since joined the Freedom Foundation as State Director to fight union tyranny and oppression. In her spare time Lauren enjoys collecting early American antiques and trying new restaurants with her husband.