Why Are Democrats Now Pushing for Schools to Open?

             Families, communities, and nations are stronger when the rising generation is well taught, and schools are the place where most of them gain their education. President Donald Trump has been saying for a couple of months that schools need to open, and he even threatened to withhold money from states that do not open their schools.

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Democrats have been holding back on this topic, but they have apparently changed their minds. Fauci encouraged the nation to use the “default principle” in making this big decision.

The default principle should be to try as best you can to get the children back to school. The big, however, and qualifier in there is that you have to have a degree of flexibility. The flexibility means if you look at the map of our country, we are not unidimensional with regard to the level of infection.

The bottom line is everybody should try within the context of the level of infection that you have to get the kids back to school, … but the primary consideration … should be the safety, health and the welfare of the children, as well as the teachers and the potential secondary effects on parents and family members.

            Fauci further explained that the psychological and physical wellbeing of children should be protected – particularly those children “who rely heavily on school for proper nutrition” – and to prevent a “negative downstream ripple effect” for overburdened parents. He said that children in “green states” should get back in school using proper precautions used in general society. States with “smoldering infections” might be wise to use the hybrid models for now. States with “high infections” may want to wait before sending children back to school.

            Fauci is not the biggest surprise. After all, he does work with President Trump and should give the appearance of being supportive. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is an entirely different matter. However, Schumer admitted today that schools must open to help the economy to recover regardless of efforts to control and contain COVID-19. “If we don’t open up the schools, you’re going to hurt the economy significantly because lots of people can’t go to work…. Executive orders leave out schools altogether.” 

            Apparently, Trump’s threat to issue an executive order to “address some economic issues, including unemployment benefits, rental foreclosures, and student loans” influenced Schumer. He and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have refused to negotiate in good faith with Republicans and the President on an economic relief package for COVID-19. Both sides were blaming the other, but Schumer blamed Republicans for not being willing to “include funding to help schools reopen safely.”

            Trump may or may not have constitutional authority to issue such an executive order because all funding must originate in the House of Representatives – the House holds the purse strings of the nation. However, Trump’s threat brought action from Schumer and hopefully from other Democrats. It will be good if the politicians can work together to get the children and teens back in school. School helps the rising generation with physical wellbeing as well as staying psychologically and socially healthy. Children’s attendance at school strengthens homes, communities, and nations.