NJ education leaders clash over drag-focused convention event
TRENTON, N.J. – A session titled “Drag Is Not a Crime – The Past, Present, and Future of Drag” at next month’s NJEA teachers convention is drawing sharp criticism from several New Jersey lawmakers, who accuse the state’s largest educators’ union of prioritizing politics over academics.
The presentation, hosted by the NJEA Consortium, promises to explore drag’s history, cultural significance, and social role as an expression of art and activism. It’s one of dozens of workshops planned for the annual conference scheduled for November 7 in Atlantic City, an event that typically draws thousands of educators from across the state.
Republican Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia blasted the session on social media, writing that the NJEA is “heavy on progressive political activism and light on academics.” She criticized the union for “spending time and resources on every social cause du jour” instead of focusing on student learning loss and basic literacy.
Education in New Jersey, once known as among the best in the nation has dropped from the number two spot nationwide to twelve in recent years.
Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn echoed those concerns, saying that with teachers facing job cuts and higher insurance costs, the convention’s priorities are misplaced. “There is no place in public school education for ‘drag queen history,’” Flynn said, calling instead for renewed focus on civics, technology ethics, and trade programs.
Union defends focus on inclusion
The NJEA has long maintained that its convention serves as a platform for professional growth and open discussion. Organizers said the drag presentation is part of a broader effort to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within schools — topics that have increasingly become flashpoints in education debates nationwide.
The workshop description highlights drag as a form of “resistance and activism” that challenges norms and promotes community among LGBTQ+ students and allies.
Supporters on the left argue such sessions foster understanding and create safer environments for students who face discrimination or bullying.
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The clash reflects growing polarization over what belongs in professional development and classrooms. Critics on the right have accused the NJEA of leaning too heavily into political advocacy, sexualization, gender ideology, and political indoctrination, while union leaders argue that educators must engage with cultural issues shaping students’ lives.
The debate comes as statewide test scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, and as districts struggle with declining enrollment and rising operational costs. Both sides agree on one point — New Jersey’s schools face a difficult balancing act between academic recovery and evolving cultural discussions.