When parents in Nevada hear the words “teachers’ union,” most think about pay raises, contract fights, or school strikes.
But the truth is, the union’s biggest battles aren’t about helping kids learn. They’re about pushing politics in the classroom and blocking parents from having choices about where their kids go to school.
That reality was on full display this week after Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), took to X to defend educators who had posted shocking comments online.
Some teachers actually celebrated the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling it a “blessing.” Instead of demanding accountability, Weingarten rushed to shield them, saying they were simply exercising their First Amendment rights.
Her post didn’t go over well. It had about 140,000 views, but only 20 likes.
Meanwhile, nearly 200 people quoted it – most of them outraged.
In case you needed another advertisement to homeschool your kids, teacher union boss Randi Weingarten is protecting the teachers who are celebrating murder pic.twitter.com/eA1FF3a5eJ
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 18, 2025
Nevada Families Are Watching Closely
This matters here in Nevada more than ever.
Our state has been in the middle of the school-choice debate for years. Governor Joe Lombardo has fought to expand Opportunity Scholarships so parents can send their kids to private schools if public schools aren’t working out.
But the teachers’ union has been the biggest roadblock at every turn.
For example, during the 2023 legislative session, the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) fought tooth and nail against Lombardo’s plan to grow school-choice programs.
Instead, they pushed for billions more into the same public system that ranks near the bottom nationally in reading and math scores. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Nevada students trail behind most states in both subjects.
Parents see the problem.
A 2024 poll from the Nevada Independent showed that 62% of Nevadans support school choice, with support even higher among Hispanic families.
That’s a direct challenge to the union’s grip on education.
The Union’s “Woke” Agenda
The Kirk assassination controversy isn’t an isolated event. For years, unions like the AFT have been pushing “woke” content into classrooms – everything from critical race theory to radical gender lessons.
When parents speak up, unions label them as extremists.
During the pandemic, Weingarten even called school-choice advocates “racist” for pushing to reopen schools.
Yet it was parents, not unions, who saw how harmful endless shutdowns were to kids’ mental health and academics.
Here in Clark County, parents have voiced frustration about politicized lessons and poor academics, only to be met with silence or hostility from union-backed school boards.
That’s why homeschooling in Nevada has climbed steadily since 2020, part of a nationwide trend where homeschooling is up more than 30% compared to before COVID.
Critics Say It’s Free Speech. Parents Say It’s a Red Flag.
Weingarten and her allies insist this is about free speech, but most parents aren’t buying it.
There’s a difference between political disagreement and cheering the death of someone you don’t like.
If a teacher thinks it’s OK to celebrate violence, how can parents trust them to guide kids with fairness and respect?
It’s not censorship to say certain behavior is unprofessional. If anything, it’s accountability – something unions hate.
Why It Matters
At the end of the day, the teachers’ union isn’t protecting kids. It’s protecting itself.
By circling the wagons around bad actors, they prove once again that their real priority is politics, not education.
Nevada families are already voting with their feet. More parents are choosing private schools, charter schools, or teaching at home.
And every time Randi Weingarten defends the indefensible, she’s giving them one more reason to walk away from the public school system.
The union may have 1.8 million members nationwide, but it’s losing the trust of millions of parents.
Here in Nevada, the fight for school choice isn’t slowing down. If anything, the latest controversy has only made it stronger.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
