“Biden’s Shift on School Reopenings: Balancing Promises and Union Support”
Joe Biden’s commitment to reopening schools faced a significant transformation just eight days into his presidency, according to revelations in Franklin Foer’s new book, “The Last Politician.” This shift in stance, which deviated from his campaign promise, is attributed to the need to maintain the support of Randi Weingarten, the influential head of a teachers’ union. As disclosed in the book, this change in direction was seen as “the price of peace” in his relationship with the union leader.
Campaign Promise vs. Presidential Reality During his presidential campaign, Biden articulated a plan to bring students back to classrooms and reiterated his intent to reopen most schools within the first 100 days of his presidency. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing national efforts to get children back into school safely. However, this commitment would undergo significant adjustments after his inauguration.
Union Support as a Motivating Factor Randi Weingarten, who held considerable influence and was a prominent Democrat fundraiser through her union, became a key figure in this transformation. Her support was crucial for the new president, and Biden aimed to align his policies with her perspective.
A Shift in Presidential Stance Shortly after taking office, Biden’s approach to school reopenings began to shift. He acknowledged the concerns raised by teachers about resuming in-person classes and assured Weingarten that he stood by her. He made it clear that he was not abandoning the cause of reopening schools.
White House Engagement with Union Leaders Jill Biden, herself a teacher, welcomed Randi Weingarten and Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, to the White House on January 21. She praised Weingarten’s leadership and conveyed her commitment to bringing her into the White House’s decision-making process.
Adjustment to School Reopening Guidance On February 9, the White House subtly modified its guidance on school reopening. The initial promise to reopen “the majority of our schools” within Biden’s first 100 days was adjusted to include only schools up to the 8th grade. Furthermore, schools were considered “open” if they had students in their classrooms for just one day a week.
Union Influence on Guidance Text messages and emails exchanged between Weingarten and Biden administration officials revealed Weingarten’s concerns about reopening schools too rapidly. As a result, on February 12, 2021, the government’s guidance on school reopening was modified. The original wording, which stated that “all schools can provide in-person instruction,” was revised to say that “all schools have options to provide in-person instruction.”
Union Contributions to Democrats Both Weingarten’s union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and Pringle’s group, the National Education Association (NEA), made substantial political contributions to Democratic candidates during the 2020 election cycle. These contributions played a significant role in supporting Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden, who received substantial funding from teachers’ unions during his campaign.
Conclusion The evolution of Joe Biden’s stance on school reopenings serves as a noteworthy example of the complexities in balancing campaign promises, political alliances, and the practical challenges of governance. The influence of influential union leaders like Randi Weingarten played a pivotal role in shaping policy decisions in the early days of the Biden administration.
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