YOUR LETTERS: Marjorie Taylor Greene does not belong on the Education Committee

Conspiracy theories don’t belong in our schools. Hate, racism and anti-Semitism don’t belong in our schools. Bullying and harassment don’t belong in our schools.

Republicans are trying to put Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor. Greene has spread the dangerous QAnon conspiracy theory; she’s spread anti-Semitic and racist conspiracy theories; she spreads misinformation about COVID-19; she spreads conspiracy theories about voter fraud; and she has downplayed school shootings, calling them false flags. That’s right. Republicans are trying to reward her for her hateful antics by putting her on the Education Committee.

When video surfaced last week of Greene harassing Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg, all of America’s attention turned to this outrageous move by Republicans. It’s an insult to every single victim and survivor of a school shooting to appoint her to the education committee.

We teach students that facts matter. In an era when disinformation runs rampant on social media and fringe news sites, it’s more important than ever to double down on the standards we have for what we teach our students. We need to invest in civics education and teach students the importance of civic debate, and that it doesn’t involve violence.

The fact is, if any teacher did what she’s done, they’d be fired. If they harassed students and called horrifying shootings a false flag, there would be consequences. And there should absolutely be consequences for a member of Congress.

What kind of message would it send our students if the GOP leader actually puts her on the Education Committee? What would it say to kids about facts and civics? What would it say about harassment and anti-Semitism?

That’s why I’m asking you to join me in telling the GOP not to let Marjorie Taylor Greene on the Education Committee. You can send a letter here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-does-not-belong-on-the-education-committee?source=twitter& @AFTUnion.

RANDI WEINGARTEN
President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)