CA teachers unions prevent students from returning to in-person learning

California teachers unions are preventing students from returning to in-person learning, fighting with Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom in the process. The unions are demanding that educators get vaccinated before returning to the classroom. Newsom told educators that he is willing to negotiate but certain demands, including the call by unions to have all teachers vaccinated before school starts, were unrealistic given the shortage of vaccines, reported KRON 4.

"If everybody has to be vaccinated, we might as well just tell people the truth: There will be no in-person instruction in the state of California," Newsom said Thursday during a video meeting with the Association of California School Administrators. "If we wait for the perfect, we might as well just pack it up."

In a proposal called Safe Schools for All, Newsom detailed a plan that would give schools extra funding for COVID-19 testing and safety measures if they reopen. Elementary schools reopening by mid-February would get more funding than schools that reopen later. Schools that fail to submit an application will not receive extra funding. California schools are only eligible to reopen once their daily new case rate falls below 25 per 100,000 residents, under the new requirements.

The California Teachers Association criticized this plan in a letter to Newsom.

"The virus is in charge right now and it does not own a calendar," the letter said. "We cannot just pick an artificial calendar date and expect to flip a switch on reopening every school for in-person instruction."

Newsom is not the only individual frustrated with the California Teachers Association, parents of students are too. Many California families have fled to private schools so their children can attend in-person learning. Susan Ortega, a mother of two, is among those who transferred her children. Susan Ortega is a Democrat who voted for Newsom but has now joined the effort to recall him, KRON 4 reported.

"It’s been horrendous," she said about distance learning. "These kids have given up hope. They can’t get out of bed. They see no point in anything because there is nothing to strive for."

A mother who has two teens in high school told KRON 4 that both of her sons are suffering from anxiety and depression due to distanced learning. Christine Atha articulated, "These kids don’t need any more videos to watch from behind their desk sitting alone in their rooms. The only thing they need is to return to in-person school." She added "The science says you go back to school when it’s time. And it is high time.'

Newsom has said he will not force public schools to reopen but instead wants to "incentivize" them and has proposed a $2 billion plan that has met criticism from superintendents, unions and lawmakers. California schools are approaching the one-year anniversary of being shut down for the coronavirus pandemic.