I had the opportunity on September 15, 2023, to appear on Stuart Varney’s show on Fox Business to talk about two stories related to segregation – one about a school principal in Florida who resigned after protests by Black parents that their kids were singled out for a lecture about poor performance, and also Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers calling school choice segregationist.
The segment was promoted across Fox Business and MSN platforms:
Here is the segment:
Varney (00:00): A Florida elementary school pulled black children from classes, lectured them about poor grades, parents outraged, and the principal forced out. William Jacobson is a law professor at Cornell University and joins me now. Professor, what do you make of only minority kids being pulled aside for a lecture on their poor performance?
WAJ (00:20): Well, I think this is a reflection of the whole problem with diversity, equity, and inclusion, critical race theory, whatever you want to call it. It treats black students as doomed to failure. And that appears to be what was happening in this elementary school, that they presumed that because of the color of skin that they were going to have a harder time. And that sort of stereotype is so negative for the students. And obviously the parents are objecting.
Varney (00:43):
Do you believe that this happens? I wouldn’t say frequently, but happens elsewhere.
WAJ (00:50): I think it’s unusual to have an assembly just for black students or just for white students or just for any, but I think the purpose is there throughout, in the way that students are treated, in the way they’re taught about our society, that there’s systemic racism, that they’re essentially doomed to failure. So whether they pull them out of the classroom and put them in an assembly or they just do it in the classroom, it’s the same problem.
Varney (01:14): Would you just hold on for a second for us, Professor, I’ve got one more subject I’d like you to address after this. Uh, parents are outraged at new comments from Randy Winegarten. Ashley come into this. What did she say?
[report on Weingarten comments]
Varney (02:20):
Alright, thanks Ashley. Come back in Professor Jacobson, please. What do you make of the comment that the language of segregation is the same as the language of school choice?
WAJ (02:32): Well, it’s somebody who obviously can’t see what’s in front of her. School Choice is choice. It’s empowering parents. It’s letting them make the choice where their kids are going to go. But as we’ve seen in the prior segment, the segregation is taking place through the ideology pushed by Randy Weingarten, which is diversity, equity, and inclusion and critical race theory. That’s what’s separating students.
We need to treat all students the same and fairly based on their performance and their merits, not based on their skin color. So Randy Weingarten is like the arsonist who set fire to the house and now is complaining that the house is on fire. She’s the cause of a lot of these problems and her organization
Varney (03:11):
Real fast. Professor, do you get pushed back at Cornell? For your views?
WAJ (03:17):
It varies over time. Sometimes it’s been very intense, sometimes not intense. But I’m still here. I’m still talking to you. And as far as I know, I still have a job. But yes, there is pushback.
Varney (03:28):
That’s good to hear. We don’t want you to lose your job because of us. And that’s a fact. Professor Jacobson, thank you very much for being on the show. I hope we can come back soon too. Thank you, sir.
WAJ (03:36):
Great. Thanks for having me.
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