Republicans are reminding Democrats about reopening the school, believing it will be a powerful wedge issue in the midterm elections and give the IDP a way back to win suburban voters.
Exploding battles are taking place in cities and states led by Democracy over how quickly public schools should reopen and Republicans opt for divisions between elected officials and teachers’ unions.
The campaign of the House of the GOP and the Senate monitors the donations of trade unions to democratic members and accuses them of putting special interests above student education.
In a speech this week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe memorandum: bad job report strengthens Biden stimulus case ACCOMPANYING ENERGY: DOJ to get companies to pay for environmental projects again to reduce fines | House Democrats again propose a green energy tax package in Marjorie Taylor Greene, a look to the future MORE (R-Ky.) Fought against what he described as Democratic ‘goal-moving’, pointing to districts refusing to return to personal learning until all teachers had been vaccinated.
GOP members of the House and Senate have introduced resolutions to limit government funds for public schools that have not reopened.
“There can be no more powerful issue at the moment, and it fits in with the perfect need for the Republican Party,” an IDP assistant said. ‘Many Republicans lost last year because voters in the suburbs were repulsed by Trump. If there is one thing that suburban residents care about now, it is putting children back in school, and the growing view is that the Democratic Party is so bound to teachers’ unions that it is they who keep children from learning. ”
Republicans are hopeful that the issue will help them rise even in blue states.
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin FaulconerKevin Faulconer California’s Governor Facts Repeal Attempt The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Democrats show way to bypass Biden’s COVID 19 emergency relief plan Former San Diego mayoral candidate (R), who may elect him governor of California as Gov. Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomBiden’s budget breaks bank The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney holds leadership position; Dems to Punish Governor of Greene, California, Repeal Attempt MORE (D) is remembered, Newsom hammered out during a press conference he held this week in front of two schools – a private school that was open and a public school that was closed.
Republican businessman Pete Snyder is also sending a message to reopen schools as he searches the governor’s mansion in Virginia, where some officials have made headlines by saying schools should not reopen before every student is vaccinated.
Trade union leaders are furious at the allegations and accuse Republicans of teaching that they want scapegoats, but that they want to ensure the health of teachers and students.
The number of cases and hospitalizations in COVID-19 has started to decline in recent weeks as vaccination vaccines are underway, but there are deep concerns about the safety of adult educators as new virus strains emerge.
“Republicans are using this crisis to reopen teachers of scapegoats working across the country for children who need it most and to make sure it is safe,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. , said.
Yet divisions between mayors and governors who now want to reopen, and the unions and school districts seeking additional guarantees, have washed into the public view in Democratic strongholds.
In Chicago, the clash between the city and the teachers became ugly after an agreement to reopen schools was suddenly thwarted. Teachers are considering a strike not to return to classrooms as Chicago Public Schools threatens to lock them out of remote classrooms.
Democratic mayor Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot Chicago mayor beats teachers ‘union: After ’80 plus’ meetings ‘we’re out of line’ Chicago teachers to teach further amid threats to strike Chicago schools to learn in person next week urged the teachers’ unions to say that the city had invested more than $ 100 million in new security protocols before the agreed return.
“We had three weeks to implement our plan safely until the teachers’ union blew it up,” Lightfoot told MSNBC this week.
In California, Newsom is frustrated by the demands of some teachers that they be vaccinated before schools reopen.
Teachers in many countries are in front or near the front of the queue to be vaccinated, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyCDC says schools are safe, but Biden ignores science, doctors The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney holds leadership position; Judges punish Greene Overnight Health Care: Biden commits up to 400 checks but is open to restrictions | CDC Director: Vaccination of teachers ‘no prerequisite’ for safe school reopening | Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations falling MORE said this week that vaccinations should not be a prerequisite for teachers returning to the classroom.
The city of San Francisco has taken the dramatic step of suing its school district to force the doors open, as teachers’ unions there are demanding vaccinations before teachers return.
“If everyone had to be vaccinated, we might as well tell people the truth – there would be no personal instructions in the state of California,” Newsom said.
Weingarten said the tension is due to the personal nature of the case and the enormous pressure to reopen in the right way so that lives are not in danger and schools do not have to close again within a few months.
“The tension you see is because you really have to address the problems that children have with learning and the trauma of social isolation,” she said. “I think these mayors are concerned about what this means for children in the long run, and so do we. That’s why we’ve been fighting for months for the resources and guarantees we need to do it right.”
According to data from Burbio, nearly two-thirds of public schools have been operating virtually in the past year.
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that virtual learning is an inadequate substitute for personal training. As students fall academically behind, the offense rate rises and children experience emotional trauma due to isolation.
The CDC has released research over the past few weeks indicating that it is safe to reopen schools if people wear masks and social distances from each other.
Democrats maintain united behind President Biden’s plan to return to personal learning as soon as Congress passes the next round of COVID-19 relief, which includes $ 130 billion in new school funding for testing, protective equipment, ventilation and other guarantees .
The Biden government attempted to discuss the CDC report on schools that are low-transfer zones, saying the data was taken from rural areas. And they ignored Walensky’s remarks about teachers not needing vaccines to return, saying the White House is still waiting for the CDC to draw up a comprehensive plan to reopen the school.
Pollsters say the issue is notoriously difficult to investigate, as most people want schools to reopen safely, but there is disagreement about what is considered safe.
A survey by Axios-Ipsos this week found that many Americans are increasingly comfortable with reopening schools. Fifty-nine percent said they have some concerns about safety, up from 74 percent in August. Only 33 percent are extremely worried, compared to 50 percent.
“Suburban moms and the government agree they can reopen safely,” Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said. “There may be mayors and unions who do not agree on the details, but they all want to open up safely, so the Republicans are really just trying to divide on an issue on which we agree.”
California Democratic operator Tyler Law has rejected GOP criticism, saying voters would rather punish Republicans who oppose Biden’s coronavirus aid package.
“Republicans are going to bury any Covid-related message in six feet of fuss as soon as they vote against the widely supported bill,” Law said.
But Republicans believe public opinion is moving fast against Democrats because parents are in favor of reopening schools.
“Parents across the country are frustrated and want their children back in school, and they will remember in November 2022 that it is House Democrats who put special interests before children’s education,” said Camille Gallo, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee , said.