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Teachers Unions Fail Science
Townhall.com ^ | January 13, 2021 | John Stossel

Posted on 01/13/2021 4:59:28 AM PST by Kaslin

Is your child's school open now?

Probably not -- because teachers unions say that reopening would "put their health and safety at risk."

They keep schools closed by lobbying and protesting. "If I die from catching COVID-19 from being forced back into Pinellas County Schools, you can drop my dead body right here!" shouts one demonstrator in my new video.

But schools rarely spread COVID-19. Studies on tens of thousands of people found "no consistent relationship between in-person K-12 schooling and the spread of the coronavirus."

Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, encouraged schools to reopen, saying "close the bars and keep the schools open."

Heritage Foundation education researcher Lindsey Burke points out that studies in 191 countries find "no consistent link between reopening schools and increased rates of COVID transmission."

She says schools aren't COVID-19 hotspots.

"But it's logical that they would be," I push back. "Kids are bunched together."

"Positivity rates in schools are generally below those in the broader community," she says.

Closed schools hurt low-income students most because they have fewer learning alternatives. The privileged get around union restrictions.

Is your child's school open now?

Probably not -- because teachers unions say that reopening would "put their health and safety at risk."

They keep schools closed by lobbying and protesting. "If I die from catching COVID-19 from being forced back into Pinellas County Schools, you can drop my dead body right here!" shouts one demonstrator in my new video.

But schools rarely spread COVID-19. Studies on tens of thousands of people found "no consistent relationship between in-person K-12 schooling and the spread of the coronavirus."

Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, encouraged schools to reopen, saying "close the bars and keep the schools open."

Heritage Foundation education researcher Lindsey Burke points out that studies in 191 countries find "no consistent link between reopening schools and increased rates of COVID transmission."

She says schools aren't COVID-19 hotspots.

"But it's logical that they would be," I push back. "Kids are bunched together."

"Positivity rates in schools are generally below those in the broader community," she says.

Closed schools hurt low-income students most because they have fewer learning alternatives. The privileged get around union restrictions.

So, union workers get paid even when they don't work. Not working seems to be a big union goal.

At one point, LA teachers even secured a contract saying that they only are "required to provide instruction ... four hours per day" and they will "not be required to teach classes using live video conferencing."

Nice non-work if you can get it.

Yet, the teachers unions keep winning. They will win more now that Democrats control the federal government. Congress' last stimulus package forbids any funds to be used to expand school choice: no "vouchers, tuition tax credit programs, education savings accounts, scholarship programs, or tuition assistance programs."

So, students lose. Parents lose. Taxpayers lose. America loses.

Unions win.

We asked 21 teachers unions to respond to the criticisms in this column. Not one would.

Their behavior reveals their true interest: power and money. Students come third.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: teachers; teachersunions; unions

1 posted on 01/13/2021 4:59:28 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
“If I die from catching COVID-19 from being forced back into Pinellas County Schools, you can drop my dead body right here!" shouts one demonstrator in my new video.

I’d grab a piece of chalk, draw a big X on the ground there, and say, “OK, got it.”

2 posted on 01/13/2021 5:02:01 AM PST by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.`)
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To: Kaslin

And, they fail teaching.


3 posted on 01/13/2021 5:04:13 AM PST by jimfree (My 20 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quiality exec experience than an 8 year Obama.)
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To: Kaslin

The teachers union in AZ is the head of the snake. Total Communist organization. Horrible, but maybe a lot more little minds full of mush (ha, ha...El Rushbo) will be taught in a different environment, at home or a decent charter/religious school. Very sad. Some of my teachers were just wonderful, and perhaps many are today, but they as a group are going down the wrong road.


4 posted on 01/13/2021 5:09:59 AM PST by Pigsley
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To: Kaslin

This report is sickening.

Kids need some kind of schooling. Perhaps It’s time to look into vouchers and let parents decide what is best for their kids.


5 posted on 01/13/2021 5:17:16 AM PST by Kevmo (I'm in a slow motion Red Dawn reality TV show. The tree of liberty is thirsty.)
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To: Kaslin

Then resign. There are other jobs.


6 posted on 01/13/2021 5:25:55 AM PST by yldstrk (Bingo! We have a winner!)
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I think the longer the kids stay away from the teachers, the better chance they have in the future


7 posted on 01/13/2021 5:44:08 AM PST by deek69
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To: Kaslin

Meanwhile in nearly every PRIVATE school in the country the education of students continues. My daughter’s school has been back F2F since August, with a few guidelines in place.
My theory on this is the public school people know they are setting their students up for minimum wage only type jobs. Those kids won’t have the skill set to do more than flip burgers and vote D- if they can identify that letter. Meanwhile, privately educated kids are learning what they need to in order to become the next generation of engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc. In about 15 years I predict the Demonrats, lead by union people, will rally their “troops” with the cry- “Look at all the money they have, vote for us and we will take it from them and give it to you.”


8 posted on 01/13/2021 5:48:32 AM PST by MissEdie (Be the Light in Someone's Darkness.)
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To: Kaslin
Even Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, encouraged schools to reopen, saying "close the bars and keep the schools open."

The author destroys his credibility by citing this parrot-beaked muppet. If anything, Fauci’s idiotic inconsistency VINDICATES the teacher’s unions. If COVID is such a serious threat that bars, restaurants and gyms can’t open, then neither should the schools.

Shut everything down ... or shut NOTHING down.

9 posted on 01/13/2021 5:50:07 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("There's somebody new and he sure ain't no rodeo man.")
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To: Kaslin

Cradle-to-grave socialism.
K-thru-grad school: teachers unions
At the other end, AARP.


10 posted on 01/13/2021 8:52:55 AM PST by Montana_Sam (Truth lives.)
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To: Kaslin
So, students lose. Parents lose. Taxpayers lose. America loses. Unions win.

Dems win, GOP loses, again. If only we voted for Loeffler, yea, that would have changed things.

11 posted on 01/13/2021 8:54:14 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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