Education Secretary Cardona Whips Out The Nuns Ruler On Parents Who Speak Out

His comments have sparked outrage on social media, with many interpreting them as an affront to parents who have voiced their concerns at school board meetings nationwide over issues such as COVID-19 mandates, Critical Race Theory, and explicit content in books.

Cardona, who has been in the education sector for approximately 25 years, excluding his time as a higher education student, lamented the current state of public discourse. "There was civility. We could disagree.

We could have healthy conversations around what's best for kids," he said. "I respect differences of opinion. I don't have too much respect for people that are misbehaving in public and then acting as if they know what's right for kids."

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The Education Secretary also criticized those who oppose efforts to provide financial support for individuals burdened with student debt, while simultaneously accepting substantial loan forgiveness themselves as elected officials. He described this as hypocrisy, stating, "There is a team that is fighting for kids and a team that is fighting against kids."

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September 24, 2023

Nicole Neily, President of Parents Defending Education, responded to Cardona's comments on X, accusing him of openly dismissing the thousands of American parents who have been expressing their concerns at school board meetings. Neily argued that Cardona's actions reveal a lack of respect for differing opinions.

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"Actions speak louder than words – and they reveal that Secretary Cardona does not, in fact, respect differences of opinion," she said in a statement to Fox News. Neily pointed to the fact that in 2022, Cardona's Education Department chose to disband its 'parents council,' which she described as being filled with elites who rubber-stamp decisions, rather than adding members who would offer diverse viewpoints.

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Neily also mentioned that a board member of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) named Cardona as the instigator of a controversial letter sent to President Biden in September 2021.

The letter requested a federal investigation into parents protesting at school board meetings, alleging that school officials were facing threats and violence at these gatherings. The NSBA went as far as to suggest that the actions of these parents should be scrutinized under the PATRIOT Act as potential "domestic terrorists."

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Following the NSBA's letter, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memorandum directing the FBI to spearhead a task force to address threats against school officials, including the establishment of a centralized system for reporting such threats. The NSBA later apologized for sending the letter and assured that such an action would not be repeated in the future.