{"id":525761,"date":"2021-05-19T13:06:37","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T17:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=525761"},"modified":"2021-05-19T13:06:40","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T17:06:40","slug":"5-times-teachers-unions-moved-the-goalposts-on-returning-to-in-person-instruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-times-teachers-unions-moved-the-goalposts-on-returning-to-in-person-instruction\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Times Teachers\u2019 Unions Moved The Goalposts On Returning To In-Person Instruction"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F5-times-teachers-unions-moved-the-goalposts-on-returning-to-in-person-instruction%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=525761&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1232579590.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"  style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p>Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous teachers\u2019 unions have refused to return to the classroom, citing concerns about the potential for transmission, despite evidence that children were not a significant vector for spread.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, an October study concluded that COVID-19 transmission rate on campuses was minuscule, with transmission between students being just 0.13%. That number climbed slightly higher to 0.24% for school staff. The study, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/report-data-from-200000-students-across-47-states-reveals-shockingly-low-covid-case-rate\">The Daily Wire<\/a>, was conducted with more than 200,000 K-12 students across 47 states.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these findings, \u201cvirtual learning\u201d continued as teachers and their unions resisted the calls to return to the classroom. We were told teachers and faculty would feel much more comfortable once COVID-19 vaccines were widely distributed and a majority of students and staff were vaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>However, in February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that it was possible for students and teachers to return to the classroom without educators being vaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe CDC team reviewed data from studies in the United States and abroad and found the experience in schools differed from nursing homes and high-density work sites where rapid spread has occurred,\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/education\/cdc-school-virus-spread\/2021\/01\/26\/bf949222-5fe6-11eb-9061-07abcc1f9229_story.html\">The Washington Post<\/a> reported at the time. \u201cThe review, which echoes the conclusions of other researchers, comes as many school districts continue to wrestle with whether and how to reopen schools and as President Biden makes a return to in-person learning one of his top pandemic-related priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even though CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said she is \u201ca strong advocate of teachers receiving their vaccinations,\u201d she also indicated researchers \u201cdon\u2019t believe it\u2019s a prerequisite for reopening schools,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/cdc-director-schools-can-open-without-teacher-vaccines-but-require-mandatory-masking\">The Daily Wire<\/a> reported. She did, however, say \u201cuniversal masking\u201d was necessary.<\/p>\n<p>But now, COVID-19 vaccines are being widely distributed and trials are being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/05\/17\/997029362\/clinical-trials-underway-for-5-and-younger-covid-19-vaccinations\">conducted<\/a> on children as young as five. This begs the question: At what point will teachers and their unions feel it is now \u201csafe\u201d enough to return to the classroom?<\/p>\n<p>However, throughout the pandemic, teachers\u2019 unions have moved the goalposts regarding the reopening of schools. Here are just a few examples of teachers\u2019 unions putting their own objectives above \u201cthe science\u201d:<\/p>\n<p><strong>July 2020: Los Angeles teachers refused to return to the classroom unless their political demands were met.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Last summer, the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) refused to return to the classroom unless various levels of government listened to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utla.net\/sites\/default\/files\/samestormdiffboats_final.pdf\">demands<\/a>, including those unrelated to the pandemic or schools.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/tipsheet\/bethbaumann\/2020\/07\/14\/la-teachers-union-refuses-to-return-to-in-person-classes-until-their-progressive-n2572420\">Townhall<\/a>, among the union\u2019s demands was that the federal government implement \u201cMedicare for All.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe boundless greed of the for-profit health industry, combined with this country\u2019s deeply ingrained racism, has led to race-based health disparities that have resulted in excess deaths especially among Black communities long before the pandemic further widened the health gap,\u201d the union wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The teachers\u2019 union called on California to pass an annual 1% capital gains tax on the wealthy as well as a 1% \u201csurtax\u201d on those making $1 million or more. For those making $3 million or more, the proposed tax would jump to 3%.<\/p>\n<p>On the local level, UTLA wanted police to be defunded and a moratorium on charter schools to be implemented.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPolice violence is a leading cause of death and trauma for Black people, and is a serious public health and moral issue,\u201d the union wrote. \u201cWe must shift the astronomical amount of money devoted to policing, to education and other essential needs such as housing and public health.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the teachers, \u201cPrivately operated, publicly funded charter schools drain resources from district schools \u2014 and many have \u2018double-dipped\u2019 during this crisis by taking federal small business bailout loans even though state funding did not decline this school year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The UTLA also wanted local governments to provide \u201cfinancial support\u201d for illegal immigrants and their families.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if their children are U.S. citizens, in the era of ICE raids and mass deportations, many undocumented parents are too fearful to apply for benefits for their children,\u201d the union stated in their demands.<\/p>\n<p><strong>January 2021: Chicago Teachers Union head went on an international vacation but had \u201csafety\u201d concerns about returning to the classroom.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/teacher-on-exec-board-of-chicago-teachers-union-tells-teachers-to-stay-home\">The Daily Wire<\/a> previously reported, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Regional Vice President Sarah Chambers rallied special education teachers to refuse to return to the classroom after Christmas break last year. The union\u2019s primary concern with the district\u2019s HVAC system, which includes air filtration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the most difficult time. Transmission is highest. It\u2019s dark and cold. People are indoors and the holidays are coming, so there\u2019s going to be a lot of transmission,\u201d CTU President Jesse Sharkey said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/wgntv.com\/news\/chicago-news\/chicago-board-of-education-hold-meeting-as-cps-ctu-clash-over-return-to-classrooms\/\">WGN-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Chambers refused to return to the classroom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have signed [a] pledge, along with over 8,000+ union educators to continue to work remotely,\u201d Chambers wrote in a tweet,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/politics-policy\/education\/chicago-teachers-union-leader-calls-continued-school-closures-while-she\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Just the News<\/a>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n<p>Hours later, Chambers posted a picture on Instagram of her Caribbean vacation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpending the last day of 2020 by the poolside,\u201d the caption said.\u201cWe have the whole pool to ourselves. Then, we are going to old San Juan to get some yummy seafood mofongo. We have an entire Airbnb house to ourselves. I\u2019m here with my friend who also had covid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Once the CTU head came under fire for her hypocrisy, Chambers took to Twitter to defend her actions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got 4 covid tests (2 rapid, 2 PCR) b4 coming here &#038; wore 2 masks (N95),\u201d she\u00a0wrote in a now-deleted tweet. \u201cScientists said airplanes are safer than grocery stores bc airplanes have ICU level filtration &#038; everyone wears masks. My doc said it\u2019s extremely unlikely for me to get Covid again since I had it so badly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the CTU refused to return to in-person instruction, Chicago\u2019s public health commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, pointed to the Archdiocese of Chicago as an example of low transmission rates among students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cArwady pointed out data from the Archdiocese of Chicago showing the infection rate among students was half the rate of students out of school while teachers\u2019 infection rate was akin to \u2018adults in the community,&#8217;\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/teacher-on-exec-board-of-chicago-teachers-union-tells-teachers-to-stay-home\">The Daily Wire<\/a> reported at the time. \u201cThe Archdiocese of Chicago supervises roughly 200 Chicago-area schools that have been mostly open for months.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 2021: Berkeley teachers union president advocated for remote learning while taking his daughter to in-person preschool.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Back in March, Berkeley Federation of Teachers President, Matt Meyer, advocated for schools in his district not to reopen until all teachers and district staff were vaccinated and an agreement was reached on social distancing and mask-wearing, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/berkeley-teachers-union-president-seen-taking-daughter-to-in-person-classes-after-leading-charge-to-keep-schools-closed\">The Daily Wire<\/a> reported. It was what he deemed the \u201cgold standard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Parents, however, were rightfully upset when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kqed.org\/news\/11862469\/after-leading-school-closures-berkeley-teachers-union-president-spotted-dropping-daughter-off-at-in-person-preschool\">KQED-TV<\/a> uncovered a video of Meyer taking his 2-year-old daughter to in-person instruction at a nearby preschool.<\/p>\n<p>Part of the reason Berkeley teachers refused to return to the classroom was the concern that young children may not follow the district\u2019s mask guidelines. Dr. Shelene Stine, an internal medicine doctor at Highland Hospital, told KQED that isn\u2019t necessarily the case.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am a physician. It is definitively the scientific agreement that it is possible to deliver safe in-person education,\u201d Stine explained. \u201cIt\u2019s infuriating to know Matt Meyer says kids can\u2019t wear masks when kids in his preschool wear them all day long.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meyer said his daughter is at the preschool because, \u201cUnfortunately, there are not public schools for kids her age. We are excited that we will be reopening soon with a plan that our members and the district supports.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Berkeley Unified School District announced a phased reopening, with all students returning to the classroom by the end of April. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/2021\/05\/10\/berkeley-parents-pursue-legal-action-against-berkeley-school-district-to-reopen-schools\/\">The Daily Californian<\/a>, only elementary schools have returned to in-person instruction. Parents with middle and high school students are now suing the school district for failing to return their children to the classroom.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 2021: United Teachers Los Angeles warned teachers about posting spring break photos online.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In March, the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), one of California\u2019s largest teachers\u2019 unions, allegedly told members of a private Facebook group not to post pictures or details of any spring break vacations they may have taken.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFriendly reminder: If you are planning any trips for Spring Break, please keep that off of Social Media,\u201d a member posted in a private Facebook group.\u00a0\u201cIt is hard to argue that it is unsafe for in-person instruction, if parents and the public see vacation photos and international travel.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"10.448275862069\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW: In a leaked post from a private Facebook group for UTLA union members only, teachers are warned not to post on social media if they go on spring break vacations  because the optics would be bad for them while UTLA is refusing to return to &#8220;unsafe&#8221; in-person schooling <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FOXLA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FOXLA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KxQc7k450T\">pic.twitter.com\/KxQc7k450T<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BillFOXLA\/status\/1369102199205203969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The UTLA stated they are not responsible for what their members post on social media.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a diverse membership and they are able to post their views on personal Facebook pages and in this Facebook group \u2014 however UTLA does not monitor nor is responsible for the content,\u201d the union <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BillFOXLA\/status\/1369102309360214017?s=20\">told<\/a> Fox News reporter Bill Melugin.<\/p>\n<p>The news came after UTLA members voted overwhelmingly not to return to the classroom until their list of demands are met. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxla.com\/news\/los-angeles-unified-school-reopening-hinges-on-teacher-union-agreement\">ABC 7<\/a>, teachers would not return to in-person instruction until Los Angeles County moves out of California\u2019s most restrictive COVID-19 tier \u2014 the purple tier \u2014 and all staff are fully vaccinated or have access to vaccines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>May 2021: Records indicate the American Federation of Teachers lobbied the CDC to keep schools closed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, emails between the AFT, the CDC, and the White House showed that the largest teachers\u2019 union lobbied to keep learning virtual, according to a report from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/report-nations-second-largest-teachers-union-influenced-cdc-on-school-reopening-guidelines-delayed-return-to-classrooms\">The Daily Wire.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe documents show a flurry of activity between CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, her top advisors, and union officials \u2014 with Biden brass being looped in at the White House \u2014 in the days before the highly-anticipated Feb. 12 announcement on school-reopening guidelines,\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/05\/01\/teachers-union-collaborated-with-cdc-on-school-reopening-emails\/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&#038;utm_medium=site%20buttons&#038;utm_campaign=site%20buttons\"> The New York Post<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p>The AFT \u201ceven suggested language for the federal agency\u2019s school-reopening guidance released in February,\u201d The Post added.<\/p>\n<p>Around that time, Dr. Walensky mentioned it was safe for teachers to return to the classroom without a COVID-19 vaccine, as long as mask-wearing remained in effect. When the CDC finally released its guidance on school re-openings, the agency \u201cadmitted that \u2018science\u2019 was not the sole driving factor in establishing its school reopening guidelines and that officials coordinated with \u2018outside groups\u2019 to make its recommendations on the subject,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/report-nations-second-largest-teachers-union-influenced-cdc-on-school-reopening-guidelines-delayed-return-to-classrooms\">The Daily Wire<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p>According to the emails, the teachers\u2019 union wanted the CDC to stay away from blanket statements about reopening. The AFT also demanded the CDC\u2019s guidance included accommodations for teachers who were considered \u201chigh-risk\u201d for contracting COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Despite all of their resistance to returning to in-person instruction, the teachers union is now partnering with the Biden administration on \u201cmounting a campaign to return American children to classrooms five days a week,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/weekly-education-coronavirus-special-edition\/2021\/05\/17\/mental-health-fears-cloud-school-reopenings-795345?cid=su_tw_ed\">Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><i>Beth Baumann is a Political Reporter and Editor at The Daily Wire. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eb454\"><i>@eb454<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The views expressed in this piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>member<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous teachers\u2019 unions have refused to return to the classroom, citing concerns about the potential for transmission, despite evidence that children were not &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2278569,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1232579590.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"5 Times Teachers\u2019 Unions Moved The Goalposts On Returning To In-Person Instruction","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-525761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1232579590.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"5 Times Teachers\u2019 Unions Moved The Goalposts On Returning To In-Person Instruction","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525761\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2278569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=525761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=525761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}