FAQ: Mike Wingard's Viral Post on Public School Issues and Education Reform

What is this viral post about?

Mike Wingard’s Facebook post criticizes public schools as ineffective after his son faced academic consequences following a family trip, despite teachers initially telling him not to worry about missed work.

Why did this post go viral and become so significant?

The post resonated with widespread frustrations about public education, reaching 12 million views and 15,500 comments in just 5 days, making it one of the most viral social media posts in the U.S. this year.

What specific incident prompted Mike Wingard’s criticism?

After pulling his kids out of school for a family trip, teachers told him not to worry about missed work, but when his son returned, he received a ‘mountain of meaningless worksheets,’ truancy threats, and was told he was failing English.

What are the main criticisms of public schools mentioned in the content?

Critics argue schools prioritize attendance numbers and test scores over real learning, fail to prepare students for the future, and despite spending over $800 billion annually, many graduates lack basic proficiency in reading and math.

Who is Mike Wingard and what is his background?

Mike Wingard is an entrepreneur and father of three who runs the brand Legacy Mike, which focuses on building resources to equip families with future-proof skills like leadership, creativity, and financial literacy.

What alternatives to public schools are discussed?

The content mentions homeschooling as an alternative that supporters urged Wingard to pursue, and his Legacy Mike brand focuses on developing skills outside traditional education systems.

What are the key skills that Legacy Mike focuses on teaching?

Legacy Mike focuses on equipping families with future-proof skills including leadership, creativity, problem-solving, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.

How can people get involved or follow this conversation?

People can follow the conversation and get involved by visiting Legacy Mike on Facebook.

What was the public reaction to Wingard’s post?

Supporters urged homeschooling while critics argued parents should follow school rules and take vacations only during summer, creating a fierce national debate about education priorities.

What is the broader concern about education mentioned in the content?

Wingard warns that if education isn’t fixed now, ‘we risk losing another generation’ to a system that fails to teach critical thinking, reading proficiency, or real-world problem-solving skills.