Iowa governor's push to reopen schools descends into chaos

[RandySF]

IOWA CITY, Iowa — An aggressive push by Iowa’s pro-Trump governor to reopen schools amid a worsening coronavirus outbreak has descended into chaos, with some districts and teachers rebelling, and experts calling the scientific benchmarks used by the state arbitrary and unsafe.

The clash in the Midwest has illustrated in condensed form the tension between science and politics — and between economic concerns and health fears — that has characterized the nation’s response to the outbreak from the White House on down. The virus has devastated the U.S. economy and killed over 170,000 Americans.

“We’re about to see a tragedy occur in the state. And there’s not a lot we can do about it. That’s frightening,” said Sara Anne Willette of Ames, a parent and former math tutor who runs a website tracking state infection data.

At issue is Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ mandate in July that districts offer at least 50% classroom instruction.

The conflict intensified Wednesday when the statewide teachers union announced a lawsuit challenging the governor’s ability to make such decisions for local districts. The Iowa City school board, which like many others had planned to start the year fully online, voted to join the lawsuit.



https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-08-19/iowa-governors-push-to-reopen-schools-descends-into-chaos

[riversedge]

1. So many smart folks have said We will not control the economy until we control the virus. This

economy apples to the schools also.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Morons vs. Science. A battle for the Ages wouldn't you think, from the title? ...

It's not, It's more of a two-fold issue, a 'life and death' matter, and a 'centralized government vs. local government' issue.

Life and death is pretty straight-forward, idiotic trump-leaning governors as well as trump and trump-leaning segments of the federal government are pushing for reopening against all scientific advice to not reopen schools in the post-coronavirus (CV) era.

Many parents and others are refusing to join this ridiculous and illogical option by trump and governors in the midst of all of this death and suffering AND especially when online instruction is clearly available to all.

Teachers, administrations, a lot of students, parents, etc. all are starting to rebel against the imposition of such idiotic dictates by state and local governments that lean towards such an idiotic and illogical choice.

One prediction (IMHO) that I have, is that by issuing such idiotic dictates to reopen schools, etc., despite clear evidence to the contrary that reopening is a pretty poor choice, state governments that demanded local school districts reopen despite the CV will fall across the country because of anger by voters at this idiotic decision.

Along w/ recapturing the Executive Branch of government and the US Senate, and increasing the lead in the US House of Representatives), about the only good thing about the CV epidemic is that a far more rational and logical government will be installed and the rule by idiots and morons will finally go away. The great experiment will be deemed a gross failure (as it should be). The return of a far more rational national government will come Jan. 2021.