"The President couldn't be clearer--schools in this country should remain open."

[Celerity]

Last edited Sun Jan 9, 2022, 07:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Leana Wen, M.D.
@DrLeanaWen Public health professor
@GWPublicHealth Emergency physician. Contributing columnist @WashingtonPost @CNN medical analyst.

"The President couldn't be clearer--schools in this country should remain open." --Jeff Zients at
@WHCOVIDResponse
briefing today.

Reminds us that teachers were prioritize for vaccinations, before most adults. There are vaccines for 5-year olds +. And $130B given to schools.

Link to tweet

Education Secretary Cardona says schools should stay open

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says “students suffered enough” and schools should stay open, after some districts opted for remote learning due to rising COVID cases and safety concerns.

“I know we have the tools to get our school safely open,” Cardona said on NewsNation’s Rush Hour. “And we have to do everything in our power to give our students the best opportunity for success. And that means giving them an in-person learning opportunity.”

Biden: Schools should stay open despite omicron wave

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/588237-biden-schools-should-stay-open


President Biden on Tuesday reiterated his belief that schools in the United States should remain physically open despite the wave of coronavirus cases driven largely by the omicron variant. Biden noted during remarks at the White House that his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan included billions of dollars to help support school reopenings during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have no reason to think at this point that omicron is worse for children than previous variants. We know that our kids can be safe when in school by the way. That’s why I believe schools should remain open. They have what they need,” Biden said before a briefing with his COVID-19 response team.

Biden said that $130 billion from the coronavirus relief law passed in March went toward reopening schools and an additional $10 billion was allotted for COVID-19 testing in schools. “That money went out to the states and the states and the school districts have spent this money well, many of them, but unfortunately some of them haven’t,” Biden said. “So, I encourage the states and school districts to use the funding that you still have to protect your children and keep the schools open.”

Biden’s remarks were consistent with his past statements that schools should remain open. The White House has touted the progress on school reopenings in Biden’s first year, distributing a memo to Democrats at the end of last year noting that 99 percent of schools were open compared with 46 percent when Biden took office.

snip

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. Totally disagree with this policy. Unless it's coupled

with mask and vaccine mandates.

[brewens]

6. Roger that. I can't see putting this statement out. It won't look good when schools start shutting

left and right.

[Runningdawg]

3. They should but many in OK can't. Their unvaccinated staff is out sick.

They MIGHT have enough staff to house a large number for 6 hours but no bus drivers to get them there, not enough teachers for classes, no lunch, no janitorial services...

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Happened Around Here

I sub in 16 different middle & high schools.
The HS about 12 miles northeast went full remote because too many teachers were out. Vax rates among staff is super high. Might actually be 100%. (I know of 2 other high schools where 100% is fact.). This one, I don't know for sure.
That's a fairly affluent area, so good hardware & internet are not the issue.
But, that district has 3 high schools. The other 2 had no such problems. No clue as to why only one school got hammered.
Not sure how things are in districts I don't visit.

[3Hotdogs]

4. Dead kids don't learn nothing. AND

Dead teachers can't teach.

I am triple vax and I got the Rona two weeks ago.

It sucks and I could have also passed it on to people who were too young or otherwise compromised to get vaccine.


Schools should be closed in response to infections. Masks should be required in closed spaces. Medical staff: vax or get fired.

Oh, and by the way, Fuck asshole Alito.

[leftstreet]

7. Bullshit

without a multi-pronged approach to containment (masks, tests, financial security, infrastructure upgrades, ect) it's all bullshit meant to blame the victims

If only the Big Ventilation Air Filter Complex had lobbyists in DC

[Celerity]

9. So you are accusing Biden and his administration of 'victim blaming' now? Curious take.

[leftstreet]

12. Jeff Zients said it. Whoever he is

He seems to think he can accurately interpret what Biden's statements mean, but I'd rather hear it from Biden

[Celerity]

14. Jeff Zients is the Head White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator. Biden said the same thing.

Biden: Schools should stay open despite omicron wave

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/588237-biden-schools-should-stay-open


President Biden on Tuesday reiterated his belief that schools in the United States should remain physically open despite the wave of coronavirus cases driven largely by the omicron variant. Biden noted during remarks at the White House that his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan included billions of dollars to help support school reopenings during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have no reason to think at this point that omicron is worse for children than previous variants. We know that our kids can be safe when in school by the way. That’s why I believe schools should remain open. They have what they need,” Biden said before a briefing with his COVID-19 response team.

Biden said that $130 billion from the coronavirus relief law passed in March went toward reopening schools and an additional $10 billion was allotted for COVID-19 testing in schools. “That money went out to the states and the states and the school districts have spent this money well, many of them, but unfortunately some of them haven’t,” Biden said. “So, I encourage the states and school districts to use the funding that you still have to protect your children and keep the schools open.”

Biden’s remarks were consistent with his past statements that schools should remain open. The White House has touted the progress on school reopenings in Biden’s first year, distributing a memo to Democrats at the end of last year noting that 99 percent of schools were open compared with 46 percent when Biden took office.

snip

[leftstreet]

16. Sounds like a fed vs state issue for Biden

He's arguing the states already got strong money to make school openings safe, so hopefully he'll be looking into the oversight and accountability mechanisms that went with that money.

[Celerity]

18. So you are no longer accusing Biden and his administration of 'victim blaming'?

[leftstreet]

19. No. It's happening

Whether or not they're aware they're doing it, I don't know.

You posted good information about Biden's dilemma re: state vs federal issues. But is it fair to Biden for his employees and spokespersons to throw out statements without that context?

[Celerity]

24. Don't try and turn it on them. They spoke at length & they, Biden included, are all on the same page

I agree with President Biden and his administration on keeping the schools open as much as possible, and I certainly do not think they are victim blaming.

[leftstreet]

25. Oh, okay n/t

[Klaralven]

21. Locally there were some major HVAC upgrades done at the schools.

[JanMichael]

8. Reality and math doesn't seem to jive with these people.

Teachers and staff are dropping like flies. Students are too. I know this personally from my spouse who works in a Middle School. This is after one full week back. One or two more weeks and it's over. They have to go remote or at least hybrid as the teacher student ratio goes out of whack.

In person learning in chaos and fear is no better and likely much worse than remote learning. Remote isn't great but we are in a pandemic.

[marie999]

10. Our great-grandson is in the 9th grade.

He is in his 4th quarantine this school year because students in his classes have Covid-19. He has been lucky so far.

[Emile]

11. I support the Chicago teachers Union! Until these kids get vaccinated

it's not safe. You want your kids in schools, vaccinate them!

[Poiuyt]

13. They're basing their decision on convenience and political willpower rather than science

[LWolf]

15. I disagree.

Qualifying for a vaccination doesn't mean that one gets one, student/minor or adult. That alone means that, without a vaccine mandate for school attendance, students and staff are at risk.

The regular school day is a super-spreader event. After decades of underfunding education, there is no way to keep students 3 feet apart in a classroom, let alone 6 feet. Masks are also not enforced; we say, in most states at least, that they are mandated, but what do we do when students pull the mask down? We politely request that they pull it back up. No matter how many times a day, how many times in 10 minutes, that happens. There are no consequences for chronic mask problems.

So...just in my school, we have 800 middle school students. Every classroom is overcrowded. There are 4 student restrooms. One cafeteria. They are middle school students. I'd like to see ANY of you maintain masks, social distance, and sanitizing with those numbers. There is no extra staff to police halls etc. during passing periods, and while teachers are in those hallways, there aren't enough to make a significant difference.

Two students in my 4th period class reported positive Covid tests Friday, and another 5 just from that one class have been quarantined. Contact tracing efforts will identify more students from their other classes, but not the people they interact with outside the classroom.

What the President, what the Education Secretary, what most governors WON'T say is that we are in school, not for the mental health of students, not for the education of students, but because the U.S. education system is defacto daycare for the workers; if we don't keep schools open, too many parents don't go back to work. It's not because our schools are reasonably safe from Covid that they want schools open; they aren't. It's because Covid numbers resulting from exposure at school are acceptable in order to keep the labor force working.

I guess the losses are acceptable, too. We lost a teacher two weeks ago who leaves behind a spouse and two elementary school children.

[Emile]

17. +1

[leftstreet]

20. +1

[Klaralven]

22. Teachers are essential workers providing an essential public service

Just like nurses, transit employees, EMTs, fire fighters, waste haulers, etc.

There are also a large numbers of private sector employees who have gone to work more or less continuously for the last two years.

[liberalmuse]

23. Kow-towing to the corporations and CEO's

I'm so disappointed. Apparently our own party is willing to sacrifice our kids, teachers and healthcare workers for the almighty dollar.