CNN political commentator Scott Jennings accused American Federation of Teachers union head Randi Weingarten of getting “no remorse” for the damage brought on by the long lockdown of colleges during a heated discussion Thursday night.
Jennings pilloried Weingarten, an influential labor leader and ally of the Biden administration, a day after she defended her involvement within the controversial school lockdowns at a contentious Capitol hearing.
“We do not know one another, but speaking on behalf of hundreds of thousands of American parents – I even have 4 at home, I needed to homeschool them, my wife needed to homeschool them – I’m shocked by what you said this week about your claim that you just desired to reopen schools Jennings said throughout the segment, in keeping with Mediaite video.
“I feel you will find that almost all parents think you have been on the tip of the spear of school closures,” continued Jennings.
“There are a whole lot of statements you made in the summertime of 20 scaring people to death about the potential for opening schools, and I hear no remorse for the generational damage done to those kids. I even have two children with learning differences.”
“Do you already know how hard it’s for them to review at home as a substitute of within the classroom that was meant for them? And for you to sit down down before Congress and the American people and say, “What? I desired to open them on a regular basis,” he added. “I’m in shock, I’m in shock. And there are hundreds of thousands of oldsters who feel the exact same.”
![Scott Jennings](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000010300091.jpg?w=1024)
Jennings addressed Weingarten’s remarks on Capitol Hill, where the rebellious union boss insisted she had consistently pushed for schools to reopen.
Throughout the pandemic, Weingarten and other union activists have pushed for schools to shut until strict precautions are put in place – a move critics say inappropriately delayed in-person learning to the detriment of young children.
“We desired to be at school; I’ve said that over and over again today,” Weingarten said during her testimony.
![Randi Weingarten](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000010300093.jpg?w=1024)
Earlier this week, The Post reported that Weingarten consulted with CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and White House officials ahead of the February 12, 2021 announcement that slowed the total reopening of in-person learning to students.
Pressed by Jennings about her actions, Weingarten defended her way of handling the situation.
“I do not know you, sir, and you do not know me.” But I have been working for the last 20 or 30 years helping children on daily basis. I used to be a teacher, I used to be a union leader,” replied Weingarten. “I knew and understood the importance of reopening schools and ensuring people were secure.”
![Randi Weingarten](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000010200245.jpg?w=1024)
“And survey after survey we did with parents – and I’ve spent a whole lot of time with them – found that they principally understand and support that we’d like to do each. I’m really sorry about your kids,” she added.
Jennings fired back, mentioning that the US is lagging behind its European counterparts in back-to-school initiatives.
“Do you’re thinking that the parents desired to keep the youngsters?” Jennings said. “Do you’re thinking that your parents support you in raising your kids? Why have we failed? How did Europe and the remaining of the civilized world manage to do that and we failed?”
Weingarten said that “no one desired to keep the youngsters at home.”
“Schools in Europe that opened sooner than us, and most of them did, had mitigation strategies that we just talked about,” Weingarten added. “It wasn’t negotiable.”