Across the country, teachers’ unions are increasingly urging educators to take public political positions — even during the school day. This trend is deeply troubling for families who expect classrooms to remain politically neutral and focus on core school subjects such as reading, writing and math. Encouraging political advocacy in the classroom undermines trust, erodes educational integrity and places students in the middle of ideological battles.
A recent example from Minnesota shows how far this pressure can go. The Wayzata teachers’ union sent an email encouraging teachers to participate in “ICE Out Day,” a political protest aimed at opposing federal immigration enforcement. The message urged teachers to show solidarity by wearing specific colors and taking visible political stances at school. For many parents, this was a startling reminder that unions are not merely representing teachers on workplace issues; they are actively pushing political activism into classrooms.
This kind of pressure shifts the role of the teacher from educator to indoctrinator. Students, especially younger ones, are uniquely impressionable. They often assume that whatever a teacher says or displays carries the weight of authority. When political viewpoints are presented through classroom messaging, attire or teacher-led demonstrations, students feel pressured to adopt positions they do not understand.
Many assume this kind of politicization happens only in liberal states like Minnesota, but a recent incident in conservative South Carolina shows the problem is far more widespread. Although South Carolina is a right‑to‑work state, trade associations often function much like unions. The South Carolina Education Association, for example, is partnering with the Greenville Immigrant Community Hotline to host a workshop for educators and administrators titled “I.C.E. Response & Know Your Rights.” This raises the same concern: organizations that influence teachers are increasingly encouraging political activism within the school environment.
Families have the God‑appointed responsibility to frame news and civic issues for their children according to their own beliefs. That responsibility does not belong to unions, political movements or even well‑intentioned educators. When unions encourage teachers to inject political messaging into the school environment, they bypass parents entirely. This not only violates the trust families place in government schools but also deepens the divide between schools and the communities they serve. Parents are entrusted with shaping their children’s moral and political understanding, and schools should support, not override, that sacred role.
Teachers themselves are also placed in a difficult position. Many enter the profession because they love their subject, care about children and want to make a difference — not because they want to be political operatives. When unions pressure educators to participate in political demonstrations like “ICE Out Day,” they risk alienating teachers who simply want to teach. No educator should feel compelled to promote a political ideology to remain in good standing with their professional association.
There is also the matter of fairness. Classrooms include students from diverse backgrounds and families with a wide range of beliefs. Encouraging teachers to promote political viewpoints risks marginalizing students who disagree or who come from homes with different perspectives. A healthy learning environment requires that all students feel respected and free to think for themselves. Political advocacy from the front of the classroom undermines that freedom.
None of this means teachers must avoid discussing current events or civic issues. These topics are essential to a well‑rounded education. But they must be taught with balance, accuracy and respect for differing viewpoints. The goal should be to equip students with critical thinking skills — not to steer them toward a predetermined political conclusion.
Teachers’ unions have every right to advocate for their members on matters such as pay, working conditions and professional development. But urging teachers to take political positions in the classroom crosses a line. It compromises educational neutrality, strains relationships with parents and places students at the center of ideological conflicts they are not prepared to navigate.
If unions truly want to support educators, they should champion professionalism, academic excellence and respect for families — not political activism in the classroom. America’s students deserve an education that empowers them to think independently, while families retain the rightful authority to guide their children’s understanding of the world.
Parents need to recognize that government school systems, including teachers’ associations, do not have the best interests of their children as their focus. Parents should get their kids out of government schools, away from this harmful political indoctrination.
Sheri Few is the Founder and President of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE), whose mission is to end the U.S. Department of Education and all federal education mandates. Few speaks regularly on radio and television across the country and served as Executive Producer for the documentary film titled “Truth & Lies in American Education.” Few is also the host of USPIE’s podcast, “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few,” which educates Americans on the various forms of indoctrination, harmful policies and affronts to parents’ rights occurring in government schools across the country. Listen to “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and X.