Republicans slap Democrats on school reopenings, believing it will be a powerful wedge issue in the midterm elections and provide the GOP with a way back to winning suburban voters.
Explosive fighting is unfolding in Democratic-led cities and states over how quickly public schools should reopen, and Republicans complain about divisions between elected officials and teacher unions.
The House of GOP and Senate campaign weapons track union donations to Democratic members, accusing them of putting special interests above student education.
In a speech this week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Memo: Bad Jobs Report Boosts Incentive for Biden OVERNIGHT ENERGY: DOJ Gives Business Again to Pay for Environmental Projects to Reduce Fines | House Democrats Reintroduce Green Energy Tax Package In Marjorie Taylor Greene, A Look Into The Future MORE (R-Ky.) Disliked what he described as a democratic “purpose movement”, pointing to districts refusing to return to personal learning until all teachers have been vaccinated.
GOP members of the House and Senate have filed resolutions to limit government resources to public schools that have not reopened.
“There couldn’t be a more powerful problem at this point and it fits the needs of the Republican Party perfectly,” said a GOP Senate aide. “Many Republicans lost last year because suburban voters were repelled by Trump. If there’s one thing suburbs care about right now, it’s that kids are going back to school, and the growing perception is that the Democratic Party is so tied to teacher unions that they’re the ones that keep kids from learning. “
Republicans hope the problem will help them penetrate even blue states.
Former Mayor of San Diego Kevin FaulconerKevin Faulconer California Governor Faces Recall The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Facebook – Democrats Mapping Path To Pass Biden’s COVID-19 Contingency Plan Former San Diego Mayor Running for California Governor MORE (R), who could run for Governor of California as Gov. Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomBiden’s Budget Breaks the Bank The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney Holds Lead Position; Dems to punish the governor of Greene, California must try to recall MORE (D) is being recalled, Newsom hammered at a press conference he led this week for two schools – a private school that was open and a public school that was closed.
Likewise, Republican businessman Pete Snyder is hitting a message to reopen schools as he searches for the governor’s mansion in Virginia, where some officials have made headlines saying that schools should not reopen until every student has been vaccinated.
Union leaders are outraged at the allegations and accuse Republicans of scapegoating teachers who want a return to the norm, but who want to ensure the health of both teachers and students.
The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have started to decline in recent weeks as the introduction of the vaccine gets underway, but there are serious concerns about the safety of adult educators as new viral strains emerge.
“The Republicans are using this crisis to scapegoat teachers who work all over the country to reopen schools for children who need it most and to make sure it’s safe,” said Randi Weingarten, the president of the United States. American Federation of Teachers.
Yet divisions between mayors and governors pushing for reopening now, and the unions and school districts seeking additional safeguards, have turned into democratic strongholds in public opinion.
In Chicago, the clash between the city and the teachers has turned ugly after a deal to reopen schools was abruptly broken. Teachers are considering a strike to prevent them from returning to class as Chicago Public Schools threatens to lock them out of remote classrooms.
Democratic mayor Lori Lightfoot
Lori LightfootChicago Mayor Knocks Teachers Union: After ’80s Plus’ Meetings ‘We’re Off The Runway’ Teachers In Chicago To Remotely Teach Amid Threats Of A Chicago School Strike To Resume Personal Learning Next Week MORE angry with the teachers’ unions, saying the city had invested more than $ 100 million in new safety protocols prior to the agreed return.
“We had three weeks to safely execute our plan until the teachers’ union blew it up,” Lightfoot said on MSNBC this week.
In California, Newsom is frustrated with some teachers’ demands that they be vaccinated before schools reopen.
Teachers in many states are in the front or near the line to get vaccinated, but the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyCDC Says Schools Are Safe, But Biden Continues to Ignore Science, Doctors The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney maintains leadership; Wants to Punish Greene Overnight Health Care: Biden Commits to 400 Checks, But Open to Eligibility Limits | CDC Director: Teacher Vaccination ‘No Requirement’ for Safe Reopening of Schools | Coronavirus infections, hospital admissions are getting MORE said this week that vaccinations should not be a prerequisite for teachers returning to class.
The city of San Francisco has taken the dramatic step of suing its school district for forcing its doors open, as teacher unions there demand vaccinations before teachers return.
“If everyone needs to be vaccinated, we might as well be telling people the truth – there will be no personal instruction in the state of California,” Newsom said.
Weingarten said the tensions that arise are due to the personal nature of the matter and the tremendous pressure to reopen properly so that lives are not in danger and schools are not in a position to resume in a few months. must close.
“The tension you see is that there is a real need to address the difficulties children have with learning and the trauma of social isolation,” she said. “I think these mayors are concerned about what it means for children in the long run, and so are we. That’s why we’ve been fighting for months for the resources and safeguards we need to do this right.”
According to data from Burbio, nearly two-thirds of public schools have operated virtually in the past year.
There is growing evidence to suggest that virtual learning is an insufficient substitute for personal education. As students lag behind academically, delinquency rates rise and children suffer emotional trauma from their isolation.
The CDC has released research in recent weeks suggesting it is safe to reopen schools if people wear masks and keep social distance from each other.
Democrats insist they are united behind President Biden’s plan to return to personal learning once Congress passes the next round of COVID-19 aid, including $ 130 billion in new school funding for testing, protective equipment, ventilation and other precautions.
The Biden administration has attempted to take down the CDC report on schools as low-transmission zones, saying the data was from rural areas. And they’ve sidestepped Walensky’s comments about teachers not needing vaccines to return, saying the White House is still waiting for the CDC to produce a comprehensive plan for the school’s reopening.
Surveyors say the problem is notoriously difficult to oversee as most people want schools to reopen safely, but there is disagreement over what is considered safe.
An Axios-Ipsos poll this week found that many Americans are increasingly comfortable reopening schools. Fifty-nine percent said they had some safety concerns, up from 74 percent in August. Only 33 percent are very concerned, against 50 percent.
“Suburban mothers and the government agree on a safe reopening,” said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. “There may be some mayors and unions who disagree on the details, but they all want to open safely, so Republicans are really just trying to divide an issue on which we agree.”
California Democratic agent Tyler Law rejected the GOP’s criticism, saying that voters would instead punish Republicans who oppose Biden’s coronavirus aid package.
“Republicans will bury any Covid-related message in six feet of manure as soon as they vote against the widely supported aid law,” Law said.
But Republicans say public opinion is moving rapidly against Democrats like a tidal wave of parents calling for schools to reopen.
“Parents across the country are frustrated and want their children back to school, and will remember that by November 2022 it will be the House Democrats who are putting special interests above the education of children,” said Camille Gallo, a spokesman for the National. Republican Congressional Committee.