The decision of the Chicago Teachers Union not to accept in-person work led to a rare alliance among Republican leaders, the Biden administration, and the city’s Democratic Mayor – all of which have criticised the action.
The Chicago Teachers Union voted earlier this week to go to virtual learning amid rising cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, sparking heated words from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who called it an “unlawful, unilateral strike” that is based on “fear-mongering and hysteria.” Although daily case counts have soared, deaths have not. Lightfoot stated that
Children should be learning in person.
“We’re in the middle of a pandemic and a surge that’s unprecedented in our 20-plus months of experience with this deadly virus. Lightfoot stated WBEZ . “I understand the concerns of individuals.” “But what I also know is this is not the time for us to abandon science, and what the science and the data tell us is that the safest place for children to be in a pandemic is in the classroom.”
The Biden administration also criticized the teachers union.
“The President stated yesterday that he wanted schools to open,” Jen Psaki spoke Wednesday. “We know that schools can be opened safely and we are here to make it happen. He agrees with education, medical, and scientific experts that the historical work we have done is more than enough to ensure schools remain open. … Thi