What is the deal with school openings being political?

[mysteryowl]

Doesn't everyone want schools to open as soon as possible?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The same reason masks became political -

it's symbolic of whether the pandemic is "real" or not. Everybody wants schools to open as soon as it's safe, but the covid-denier crowd thinks it's safe now because covid isn't really that big of a deal.

[arlyellowdog]

2. It's very political

In our village, Democrats support teachers: the need to vaccinate teachers and to provide a safe school environment. Republicans demand: open now! They decry “the demands of ‘teacher unions’” (even though Virginia is a right to work state with no teacher unions, yet).

[DLCWIdem]

3. Everything can be political

1. Many of the right want the schools open regardless of safety. They want parents back to work and school helps that. Many Parents also want Their children back to school so they can return to work.

OTOH some parents are concerned about the safety for Their kids. Teachers who usually belong to a big union are concerned about themselves and safety. And some of the poorest schools cannot meet the guidelines to keep schools safe.

Hence political. Your mixing unions, the economy , taxes as regards to school districts and the welfare of children. Of course, it's political.

[Mariana]

4. Trump made it political. nt.

[FrankBooth]

5. Everyone wants schools to "safely" open as soon as possible

Which means teachers and school personnel need to be vaccinated first, and schools should not re-open until that happens. Once that happens, yes, open them.

[liberal_mama]

6. They want the low-income workers to be provided w/ childcare so they can get their asses to work!

They need to consider the safety of the teachers and school personnel. In my area, some schools are open and there have been covid outbreaks. They just had to close a school a few days ago.

[WHITT]

7. UNIONS

Plain and simple.

[struggle4progress]

8. States allowing teachers to get Covid-19 vaccines

By Yon Pomrenze, Evan Simko-Bednarski and Elizabeth Stuart, CNN
Updated 4:34 PM ET, Fri February 5, 2021

... 24 states plus Washington, DC are allowing some or all of their teachers and school staff to receive Covid-19 vaccines.

Several governors are making teachers a priority ...

Of the 24 states that have now made teachers eligible, there is still the matter of availability. In several of those states, some counties are moving more quickly than others to reach the Phase or Group numbers that include educators.

There are 26 states where teachers are still not eligible to receive the vaccine as a specific group -- although some educators might fall into the age group that state is vaccinating ...

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/05/us/teacher-vaccine-states-list-trnd/index.html