A “totally unhinged” speech by the president of the National Education Association (NEA) had many listeners thinking about a popular character the TV series, “The Office.”.
NEA President Becky Pringle seemed to reinforce the need for school choice with her over-the-top speech at the NEA’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly (RA) in Philadelphia. Calling for transformative social justice changes in the education system, Pringle repeatedly yelled about winning “all the things” while throwing her arms in the air and banging on the podium.
The screeching and animated address made many critics think of one memorable scene of Dwight Schrute from “The Office.”
“To unite not just our members, but the nation to reclaim public education as a common good, as the foundation of our democracy, and then transform it into something it was never designed to be—a racially and socially just and equitable system,” Pringle said. “We worked hard to rid ourselves of a tyrannical, deceitful, and corrupt White House, but the reality is that the seeds that were sown during that horrible season continue to germinate.”
President of the National Education Association.
And clearly a cunning linguist… pic.twitter.com/LheAka8mYN
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 8, 2024
“We are the ones who help shape the heart of this nation’s hope and dreams. We are the ones who hold steadfast to the belief in the plausibility of the possible. We are the heirs of all who did this work before us. We must keep going. NEA Delegates, we can do this work. We must do this work,” Pringle screeched.
“Our students are depending on us to win all the things,” Pringle continued. “All the things! All the things! All the things.”
Her “off-the-rails” speech seemed like a scene straight out of “The Office” for school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis.
“These power-hungry control freaks think they own your kids. They’re in a cult that worships government and detests parents. It’s time to defund teachers unions and allow the money to follow the child,” DeAngelis told Fox News Digital. “Becky Pringle pulled a Dwight Schrute. She is off-the-rails and desperate to maintain control over the minds of other people’s children.”
In the memorable scene from the TV series, Schrute shouted, “Blood alone moves the wheels of history!”
“It has been a lifetime struggle. A never-ending fight. I say to you, and you will understand that it is a privilege to fight! We are warriors!… Rise and be worthy of this historical hour!” he continued in a performance the creators based on actual speeches by Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
“No revolution is worth anything unless it can defend itself! …We must never acquiesce, for it is together, TOGETHER, THAT WE PREVAIL!” Schrute yelled.
Heritage Foundation research fellow, Jason Bedrick told Fox News Digital that Pringle’s “overwrought, hyper-partisan tirade amounted to an advertisement for school choice,”
“During her speech, Pringle claimed the NEA would ‘continue to embrace the profound trust that has been placed in’ them. Apparently, she hasn’t seen the polls showing record-low public trust in public schools,” he said in a statement. “Even Pringle’s over-the-top, Dwight Schrute-like theatrics can’t distract from her union’s role in the dismal state of education in this country, from keeping schools closed for far too long during COVID, to shielding bad teachers from accountability–all at the expense of students’ learning.”
Schrute must have been Pringle’s “speech coach” quipped political consultant Matt Dole on X.
Last year’s RA speech by Pringle also caught attention for being “truly unhinged.”
“Pringle believes she’s a revolutionary; that is the only conclusion to be drawn from the truly unhinged speech she delivered,” wrote the National Review’s Jack Crowe. “Channeling Dwight Schrute, Pringle urges her colleagues, not to raise the nation’s embarrassing reading and math scores, no, but to ‘fight for freedom.”
Social media users weighed in on Pringle’s screeching, animated speech,
This Lady is a Home School Advocate and she don’t even know it
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) July 8, 2024
DEI is so mighty that it brings the absolute best to the limelight 🙄
— common sense (@FMTom) July 8, 2024
People who have no real message use yelling as a way to distract you from the fact that there is no point.
— JustNatalieK (@Just_Natalie_K) July 7, 2024
Becky Pringle and Randi Weingarten are both examples of what is clearly not what is good for our children’s needs & ours!
— Michael Sisson (@MichaelSisson15) July 8, 2024
It sounds like she wants to win all the things. Not sure though, she wasn’t very clear.
— lasermama (@lasermama1) July 7, 2024
Hey, NEA. Leave those kids alone. pic.twitter.com/ekndZDnYrC
— The Hawkington Post (@Paulhawkington) July 8, 2024
