Educators now want to ‘come together’ post-election? Prove it.

OPINION: Why should we believe liberal teachers/professors … given their actions?

I had to let out a little snort upon reading this piece from the director of a group called From Polarization to Progress at the Public Education & Business Coalition, aka FORWARD.

Katy Anthes, formerly the Colorado education commissioner, wants to remind everyone that, post-election, Americans “still agree on more than we don’t.”

Of course, she writes this as someone “who is not on th[e] winning side,” who’s “grieving,” is “in disbelief,” and has “deep sadness and concern.”

Anthes (pictured) also notes she “cannot excuse the words and behaviors” of Donald Trump, which she deems “mean, disrespectful, and divisive.”

But, luckily for those who voted red, Anthes won’t “paint [Trump] supporters with the same brush.”

We are all being fed a series of lies about each other. That’s real. And I can understand that. History teaches us that in times of uncertainty, humans often pivot to fear and tribalism. No matter who won the election, undoing this tribalism is the work of the upcoming days, months, and years so that we can create greater understanding across the divide. Educators have to be the first to model this understanding.

The work I see in front of us is about coming together to stand up for humanity and for each other. We must undo how much we think we hate each other and how much we think the “other side” is evil. Our students inevitably absorb this mentality, and they are acting it out now, too.

I’d like to believe Anthes, I really would. But given her qualifying statements and the myriad actions of educators across the country during the election season and after, I’m dubious.

Why should I believe Anthes would be politically fair in the classroom any more than Danielle Mann, Maximiliano Perez, or these folks?

The conceit among contemporary educators is akin to that of legacy media talking heads; that is, think of New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael’s comments about Richard Nixon winning in 1972: These folks ponder openly How in the world could Donald Trump win a second term?? and expect you to nod your head in agreement.

MORE: Photo of teacher and family mock-stabbing Trump may cost him his job

Consider this recent article in The Philadelphia Inquirer titled “Philly-area students had ‘some tears’ and lots of questions after the election. Teachers made room for all of it.” Teachers claimed their students were “extremely deflated,” “teed off,” and had “some tears [and] lots of fears.” So, one such teacher reacted by discussing “the privilege that wealthy white men in particular have in the United States.”

In Virginia, the state teachers union sent out an email to its members which stated “They will come for us,” “Virginia … does not fit into the MAGA narrative,” and “America is bigger than Trump and his extremism.”

This particular instance brought back memories of October 1994 when a teachers union rep. popped by my classroom to ask if I wanted a lawn sign for the Democrat running for the U.S. Senate.

“Why?” I asked. “I’m voting for the other guy.” The look of shock on the rep’s face was priceless. (The guy for whom I voted won, by the way.)

A few months later, a long-term substitute in the teachers’ lounge made a disparaging remark about Newt Gingrich (the GOP had captured the House that November for the first time in 40 years and made Gingrich Speaker). He immediately began giggling, thinking myself and the others in the room would appreciate his “humor.”

I asked him why he assumed we were all progressive Democrats. He proceeded to exit the lounge without saying a word.

So you see, while Anthes’ proclamations about “undoing” how we see the other side as “evil,” etc. certainly are laudable, permit me a cliché: Actions speak louder than words.

MORE: Cancel culture comes back to bite the Left amid posts wishing Trump was assassinated

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