On his second day in office, President Biden signed an executive order promising to use the power of the federal government to “reopen school doors as quickly as possible.” It appears he has no intention of keeping that promise.
Biden’s press secretary Jen Psaki announced this week that the White House will only commit to reopening 50% of the nation’s schools for “at least one day a week” by the end of his first 100 days in office. This plan does not even include high schools, only “a majority of K-8 schools.” In other words, Biden plans a minimal push for something that barely qualifies as a reopening, let alone a complete return to in-person learning.
This is pathetic. Private and charter schools across the country have been open for in-person education five days a week for several months now, with little to no spread of the coronavirus to show for it. There is absolutely no reason public schools can’t do the same.
Biden has argued a lack of funding is why public schools are closed but private schools are open. But several public school systems, such as New York City’s, have already proved that in-person learning can take place safely without costly ventilation systems or personal equipment. Even without these safeguards, New York City’s schools reopened for a few months last year and avoided widespread transmission of the virus completely.
The real reason Biden is lowering his own bar is that he doesn’t want to choose between city officials, who want to reopen their public school systems, and the teachers unions refusing to return to work. By setting the goals for reopening as low as he possibly can, Biden is hoping to placate both sides: City officials can return to their communities with some sort of plan, and teachers unions can rest easy knowing they won’t be back in the classroom anytime soon.
Meanwhile, students across the country are suffering. Social isolation has taken a heavy toll on young adults’ mental health, failing grades are more common than good ones, and absences are becoming impossible to track. So, no, Biden’s plan is neither “bold” nor “ambitious,” as Psaki claimed. It’s craven and shameful, and everyone but Biden seems to know it.
