Posted on 08/20/2020 1:08:05 PM PDT by karpov
New York mayor Bill de Blasio insisted on Thursday that the city was prepared to reopen its public school district, one day after the city’s largest teachers union threatened to strike if its demands regarding the reopening were not met.
Educators “know kids are suffering right now. They need support, they need what educators can give them, they need positive adult role models and counselors….They need that desperately,” de Blasio said at a press conference. “It cannot be done the same way remotely even slightly.”
The mayor continued, “We may be talking about a whole school year we don’t have a vaccine. Imagine kids going a full year without the best quality education that can only be provided in person, and the support that educators and school staff give.”
De Blasio also noted that healthcare workers, transit workers, and other essential employees have gone to work throughout the pandemic despite the risks involved. “Public servants show up and serve people: that’s what our constituents depend on,” the mayor said.
New York City public schools comprise the largest school district in the U.S., serving over 1.1 million students. Tens of thousands of those students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch, and many rely on school cafeterias for hot meals.
The mayor’s remarks came after the president of the United Federation of Teachers, New York City’s largest teachers union with over 75,000 members, threatened to strike unless certain demands are met, including providing schools with N95 masks and requiring students to take antibody tests before entering school.
“We don’t believe it is possible for schools to open on September 10,” UFT president Thomas Mulgrew said. “It might be one of the biggest debacles in the history of the city.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
I think it was in Back To School that Rodney Dangerfield said “If you’re dealing with the union boys they aren’t exactly the Boy Scouts, you know.”
Could be a Hail Mary pass, hoping more bad things happen before the election?
He’s right. I’m a public servant too (federal employee) and I take it seriously. When I referred to teachers as “public servants” in a recent Facebook post the teachers flipped out because I was calling them “servants.”
Servant leadership is Biblical (see book of Nehemiah), and it works (as do most things that are Biblical).
He’d love to keep them closed but the parents backlash would be more than he’s prepared to accept.
The one time in my life I have ever agreed with him. He’s been a good buddy to the teachers union and I’m surprised he’s doing this.
A whole year without indoctrination...might not be a bad thing. Parents who truly care about their kids will find a better way to educate them. The rest...you get out of your child what you pour into them.
I with you....leaves a bitter taste in my mouth!!!
You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
Indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Full lyrics at the link. Pretty amazing how it fits with today.
Bend over so you can be served.
I do, too, but what I don’t like is him referring to teachers as “public servants,” because the latter has just about become a protected class of person in this day and age. And it also makes them appear to be government employees...which they are, de facto, but I don’t think most like to think of themselves that way.
If a Broadway theater or a restaurant can’t open, or if a band can’t perform live music indoors anywhere in New York for “health reasons,” then no public schools should open. It’s that simple.
Oh ... and most government employees shouldn’t be getting paid, either.
There are no public servants on the government payroll. Anywhere.
If kids can go to school, then adults can go to bars, gyms and churches!!!
I live in New York City I am on Staten island that it is nice but I have been in the projects a lot. Kids are dropping like flies and abuse and violence are through the roof. That’s why they have to open the schools
“A stopped clock is right twice a day”
Who is buttering his bread for him to say something sane like this? Teachers are essential workers. They need to get back to work in the physical schools with as much safety as their districts can plan. You can’t expect a economically disadvantaged kindergarten kid to learn virtually, especially since much of early learning is built on socialization. It’s just crazy to stay virtual. And who is believing this malarkey about we’re going to go virtual for 4, 6, 8 weeks and then MAYBE we can go real?
It’s all about daycare and social services.
Otherwise why go back?
Nothing will stop the smart kids from learning. In fact their learning is likely to be accelerated.
Average kids can learn remotely with an occasional 1-1 Skype meeting for 10 mins.
The dumb ones don’t stand a chance no matter the method employed.
So, why go back?
Churches in NYC have been open for a month now and gyms are scheduled for the end of August. Of course, both have restrictions and all that jazz but it’s a start.
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