This undercuts the right Americans have to a ‘fantastic education,’ Rep Haridopolos says on May Day walkouts

May 2, 2026 - 11:18

Republican Representative Mike Haridopolos of Florida has strongly criticized school administrators who allow students to skip classes to participate in May Day protests, calling the practice "despicable" and a direct attack on the fundamental rights of American families. In a recent appearance on "The Evening Edit," Haridopolos argued that permitting walkouts for political activism undercuts the promise of a quality education that every child in the United States is entitled to.

"This undercuts the right Americans have to a fantastic education," Haridopolos said, pushing back against the idea that schools should serve as staging grounds for political demonstrations. He emphasized that classroom time is a precious resource and that excusing students for organized protests sends the wrong message about priorities. The congressman expressed particular frustration with what he sees as a double standard, where students are held to strict attendance policies for illness or family emergencies, but are given a free pass for political expression.

Haridopolos warned that normalizing these walkouts could erode academic standards and distract from the core mission of public schools. He called on parents and school boards to hold administrators accountable, insisting that the primary goal of education is to prepare students for the future, not to encourage them to walk away from their responsibilities.