Republicans are beating Democrats in reopening schools, believing it will be a powerful wedge issue in the midterm elections and offering the Republican Party a way to win back suburban voters.
Democrat-led cities and states are fighting explosive battles over how quickly public schools must reopen, and Republicans are choosing divisions between elected officials and teachers ’unions.
The arms of the Republican Party House and Senate campaign track union donations to Democratic members and accuse them of putting special interests ahead of student education.
This week, in a speech, the leader of the Senate minorities Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Memo Report: Bad Jobs Increases Biden Stimulus Case PENDING ENERGY: DOJ will allow companies to pay back environmental projects to reduce fines | House Democrats Reintroduce Green Energy Tax Package To Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vision of the future MORE (R-Ky.) He mocked what he described as a Democrat “moving target,” noting districts that refuse to return to face-to-face learning until all teachers have been vaccinated.
GOP House and Senate members have introduced resolutions to restrict government funding for public schools that have not reopened.
“There couldn’t be a more powerful issue right now and it fits a perfect need for the Republican party,” said a Republican Party Senate aide. “Many Republicans lost last year because Trump repelled suburban voters. If anything matters to suburbs right now, it’s getting kids back to school and the growing view is that the Democratic Party is so tied to the teachers’ unions that are the ones that prevent children from learning. “
Republicans hope the issue will help them make forays even into blue states.
Former Mayor of San Diego Kevin FaulconerKevin Faulconer: California Governor faces attempt to recall The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Democrats represent the way to approve Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan. The former mayor of San Diego ran for the presidency of MORE California (R), who could run for governor of California if the governor. Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomBiden’s budget breaks the bank The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney retains leadership position; The problems of punishing the governor of California Greene face an attempt to remember MORE Remember (D), Newsom hammered at a press conference he held this week in front of two schools: an open private school and a closed public school.
Republican businessman Pete Snyder is busting a similar message to reopen schools as he searches for the governor’s mansion in Virginia, where some officials have been headlines to say schools should not reopen until all students are vaccinated.
Union leaders are furious at the allegations, accusing Republicans of expiatory teachers who want to return to normalcy but who seek to ensure the health of educators and students.
COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations have begun to decline in recent weeks as vaccine deployment begins, but there are deep concerns about the safety of adult educators as new viral strains appear.
“Republicans are using this crisis for scapegoats, who are working across the country to reopen schools for the children who need it most and to make sure it’s safe,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Still, divisions between mayors and governors pushing to reopen now, and unions and school districts seeking additional safeguards, have spilled over into public view in democratic strongholds.
In Chicago, the confrontation between the city and teachers has become ugly after the deal for the reopening of schools was abruptly reduced. Teachers are planning a strike to prevent them from returning to classrooms as Chicago public schools threaten to lock them out of remote classrooms.
Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Lori Lightfoot: Chicago mayor drops teacher union: After ’80s and more meetings, we stay off track’ Chicago teachers will continue to teach remotely amid strike threats from schools in Chicago Chicago to resume face-to-face learning next week MORE he assaulted 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, ”Lightfoot told 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 at the front or near the line for vaccination, but the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyCDC says schools are safe, but Biden continues to ignore science, according to Drs The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney retains the leadership position; Stop punishing Greene Overnight Health Care: Biden promises to do 400 checks, but is open to eligibility limits | CDC Director: Teacher Vaccination “Not Prerequisite” for Safe School Reopening | Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations that fall MORE said this week that vaccines 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 while teachers unions there are demanding vaccinations before educators return.
“If everyone has to get vaccinated, we may just tell people the truth: there will be no face-to-face instructions in the state of California,” Newsom said.
Weingarten said the tensions that are taking place are due to the personal nature of the matter 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 having to close again in a few months.
“The tension you see is because there is a real need to address the issues that children have with learning and the trauma of social isolation,” he said. “I think these mayors are concerned about what it means in the long run for children, and so are we, and that’s why we’ve been fighting for months for the resources and guarantees we need to do well.”
Nearly two-thirds of public schools have operated virtually in the past year, according to data from Burbio.
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that e-learning is an inadequate substitute for face-to-face education. As students lag behind academically, crime rates skyrocket and children suffer emotional trauma from isolation.
The CDC has published research in recent weeks suggesting that it is safe to reopen schools if people wear masks and distance themselves socially.
Democrats insist they are united behind President Biden’s plan to return to face-to-face learning once 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 administration has tried to discuss the CDC report on schools as low-transmission areas, saying the data was extracted from rural areas. And they have set aside Walensky’s statements about teachers not needing vaccines to return, saying the White House is still waiting for the CDC to produce a comprehensive school reopening plan.
Pollsters say the issue is notoriously difficult to survey, 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 becoming more comfortable with reopening schools. Fifty-nine percent said they have some level of security concerns, below 74 percent in August. Only 33% are extremely concerned, below 50%.
“Suburban mothers and the administration agree to reopen safely,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster. “There may be some mayors and unions who disagree on the details, but they all want to open up for sure, so Republicans are just trying to push divisions on an issue we agree on.”
California Democratic Agent Tyler Law dismissed criticism from the Republican Party, saying voters would punish Republicans who opposed Biden’s coronavirus relief package.
“Republicans will bury any Covid-related message on six feet of manure as soon as they vote against the relief bill with broad support,” Law said.
But Republicans say public opinion is moving rapidly against Democrats as parents advocate for the reopening of schools.
“Parents across the nation are frustrated and want their children back in school, and they will remember that in November 2022 it is the House Democrats who put special interests before the education of children,” he said. Camille Gallo, spokeswoman for the National Committee of the Republican Congress.