Republicans are slapping Democrats on the reopening of schools, believing that this will be a powerful problem in the midterm elections and will offer the Republican Party a way back to winning suburban voters.
Explosive battles are taking place in Democratic-led cities and states over how quickly public schools are expected to reopen and Republicans are choosing divisions between elected officials and teacher unions.
The Republican Party’s campaign arms in the House and Senate are tracking union donations to Democratic members and accusing them of putting special interests ahead of student education.
In a plenary speech this week, the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Memo: Bad Jobs Report Boosts Biden’s Stimulus Case NIGHT ENERGY: The DOJ will allow companies to pay for environmental projects again to reduce fines | House Democrats reintroduce green energy tax package to Marjorie Taylor Greene, a glimpse into the future MORE (R-Ky.) He protested what he described as a Democratic “goal change”, pointing to districts that refuse to return to face-to-face education until all teachers have been vaccinated.
Republican House and Senate members have introduced resolutions to restrict government funds to public schools that have not been reopened.
“There couldn’t be a more potent issue out there now and it fits a perfect need for the Republican Party,” said a Republican Senate aide. “Many Republicans lost last year because suburban voters were repelled by Trump. If there is one thing that suburban people care about now, it is putting children back in school and the growing view is that the Democratic Party is so attached to the teachers’ unions that they are preventing children from learning. ”
Republicans are hopeful that the issue will help them make inroads even in the blue states.
Former Mayor of San Diego Kevin FaulconerKevin Faulconer Governor of California faces attempt to revoke The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Democrats pave way for approval of Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan Former San Diego mayor running for California governor MORE (R), who can run for governor of California if Gov. Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomBiden’s budget breaks bank The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney holds leadership position; Dems punishes Greene California Governor faces recall attempt MORE (D) is remembered, hammered Newsom at a press conference he gave this week in front of two schools – a private school that was opened and a public school that was closed.
Republican businessman Pete Snyder is similarly hammering a message to reopen schools while searching for the governor’s mansion in Virginia, where some officials have made headlines for saying that schools should not reopen until all students are vaccinated.
Union leaders are furious about the accusations, accusing Republicans of teachers who use the scapegoat and want a return to normality, but seek to ensure the health of educators and students.
COVID-19 case and hospital counts have started to decline in recent weeks with the vaccine’s launch, but there are deep concerns about the safety of adult educators as new viral strains emerge.
“Republicans are using this crisis as scapegoats for teachers, who are working across the country to reopen schools for the children who need it most and to make sure they are safe,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Still, divisions between mayors and governors who are pushing for reopening now, and school unions and school districts seeking additional safeguards, have spread to public opinion in Democratic strongholds.
In Chicago, the conflict between the city and teachers became ugly after an agreement to reopen schools was abruptly canceled. Teachers are considering a strike to avoid returning to classrooms, as public schools in Chicago threaten to block them outside remote classrooms.
Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Lori LightfootChicago mayor takes down teachers ‘union: After ’80 more’ meetings ‘we are off track’ Chicago teachers will continue to teach remotely amid strike threats at Chicago schools to resume face-to-face learning next week MORE it angered the teachers’ unions, saying the city had invested more than $ 100 million in new security protocols before the agreed return.
“We had three weeks of safe implementation of our plan until the teachers’ union blew it up,” said Lightfoot on MSNBC this week.
In California, Newsom is frustrated by the demands of some teachers to be vaccinated before schools reopen.
Teachers in many states are on the front line or almost on the front line to be vaccinated, but the Director of the Center 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 holds a leadership position; Dems will punish Greene Overnight Health Care: Biden pledges 400 checks, but open to eligibility limits | CDC Director: Teacher Vaccination ‘Not a Prerequisite’ for Safe School Reopening | Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations falling MORE said this week that vaccination should not be a prerequisite for teachers to return to classes.
The city of San Francisco took a dramatic step in suing the school district to open its doors, as teacher unions require vaccines before educators return.
“If everyone has to be vaccinated, we can simply tell people the truth – there will be no personal instruction in the state of California,” said Newsom.
Weingarten said the tensions that are occurring are due to the personal nature of the issue and the enormous pressure to reopen in the right way so that lives are not at risk and schools are not in a position to need to close again in a few months.
“The tension you are seeing is because there is a real need to address the problems that children have with the learning and trauma of social isolation,” she said. “I think these mayors are concerned with what this means in the long run for children, and so are we, which is why we have been fighting for months for the resources and safeguards we need to do this right.”
Nearly two-thirds of public schools are operating virtually in the past year, according to data from Burbio.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that virtual learning is an inadequate substitute for face-to-face education. As students fall behind academically, default rates skyrocket and children experience emotional trauma due to isolation.
The CDC has released research in recent weeks suggesting that it is safe to reopen schools if people wear masks and distance themselves socially from one another.
Democrats insist they are united behind President Biden’s plan to return to personal learning as soon as Congress passes the next round of relief from COVID-19, which includes $ 130 billion in funds for new testing schools, protective equipment , ventilation and other safeguards.
The Biden administration sought to discredit the CDC’s report on schools being areas of low transmission, saying the data was taken from rural areas. And they circumvented Walensky’s comments about teachers who don’t need vaccines to return, saying the White House is still waiting for the CDC to produce a comprehensive school reopening plan.
Researchers say the issue is notoriously difficult to research, since most people want schools to be reopened safely, but there is disagreement over what is considered safe.
An Axios-Ipsos poll this week found that many Americans are increasingly comfortable with the reopening of schools. Fifty-nine percent said they had some level of security concerns, down from 74 percent in August. Only 33% are extremely concerned, compared to 50%.
“Suburban mothers and the government agree to reopen safely,” said Democratic researcher Celinda Lake. “There may be some mayors and unions disagreeing on the details, but they all want to open up safely, so Republicans are really just trying to lead to divisions on an issue that we agree on.”
California Democratic operative Tyler Law rejected criticism from the Republican Party, saying voters would punish Republicans who oppose Biden’s coronavirus relief package.
“Republicans will bury any Covid-related message in nearly two meters of dung as soon as they vote against the widely supported aid project,” said Law.
But Republicans say public opinion is rapidly moving against Democrats like a wave of parents who are calling for schools to reopen.
“Parents across the country are frustrated and want their children back to school, and they will remember in November 2022 that it is House Democrats who put special interests before their children are educated,” said Camille Gallo, a spokeswoman. of the National Republican Congress Committee.