Biden is slammed for ‘sacrificing’ American kids’ education to keep woke union teachers’
Joe Biden softened his campaign pledge to reopen most of the nation’s schools only eight days after taking office, a new book has claimed, in a bid to appease the powerful head of a teachers’ union, Randi Weingarten.
Biden in July 2020 laid out a plan, on the campaign trail, to bring students back to classrooms.
After the election, on December 8, 2020, he reiterated his intention to reopen most schools within the first 100 days of his presidency.
‘It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school,’ said Biden.
‘If Congress provides the funding, we need to protect students, educators and staff.
‘If states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see that the majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days.’
Yet almost immediately on taking office, his stance shifted, writes author Franklin Foer in a new book about Biden’s first two terms, The Last Politician.
The move has been condemned as devastating for children’s educations – particularly those already deprived who were less likely to be supported with online learning.
COVID school closures and mask wearing have also been blamed for serious issues with children’s psychological development and mental health.
Joe Biden is seen with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers – which contributes millions to Democrat causes
Weingarten looks on as Biden addresses an AFT event in 2019. The pair have been friends for decades
Children are seen wearing face masks in the classroom in California in January 2022
Weingarten was a major Democrat fundraiser, through her union, and the new president needed to keep her on side.
Foer, in excerpts of his book analyzed by The New York Post, called the watering down of the campaign promise ‘the price of peace’.
Foer’s book will be published on Tuesday
Foer writes that, on January 28, 2021, Biden rang Weingarten – who had initially welcomed his campaign plan to reopen schools, but was now calling for the pace to be checked.
Biden, Foer writes, told Weingarten that ‘he knew she was taking a lot of heat around the reopening of schools.’
Teachers were concerned about resuming in-person classes, and Biden told Weingarten that he heard their fears, and that ‘he was an abiding friend.’
He told her: ‘I am not abandoning you on schools. I want you to know that.’
The week before, on January 21 – Biden’s first full day in office – his wife Jill, herself a teacher, had invited Weingarten and Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, to the White House.
Jill Biden told the pair that Weingarten was the ‘type of general who is never far from the front lines.’
Jill Biden is seen with Randi Weingarten in December 2022. She welcomed Weingarten to the White House on her husband’s first day in office
A child in a face mask is seen in January 2021 attending school, with socially-distanced desks
Biden pledged on the campaign trail to reopen most schools, but that pledge rapidly eroded
The first lady added, according to Foer: ‘I said I was going to bring you with me into the White House. And on day one, you’re here.’
On February 9, the White House subtly adjusted the guidance on school reopening, to water down the promise to reopen ‘the majority of our schools’ within Biden’s first 100 days.
Under the new plan, only schools up to 8th grade would reopen – and they would be considered ‘open’ if they had students in their classrooms one day a week.
‘His goal that he set is to have the majority of schools — so, more than 50 percent — open by day 100 of his presidency,’ said Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary.
‘And that means some teaching in classrooms.
‘So, at least one day a week. Hopefully, it’s more.
‘And obviously, it is as much as is safe in each school and local district.’
Subsequent text messages and emails between Weingarten and Biden administration officials showed Weingarten worried about reopening schools too quickly.
Weingarten’s group is a significant force in Democrat politics. She is seen in March 2017 in Boston
On February 12, 2021, guidance on school reopening was issued by the government.
In a draft copy obtained by The New York Times, the guidance said ‘all schools can provide in-person instruction’.
Weingarten objected, Foer writes, and the language was changed to to ‘all schools have options to provide in-person instruction.’
Weingarten’s union, the AFT, gave more than $2.6 million to Democratic candidates during the 2020 election cycle, according to the political donation tracking website OpenSecrets.
Pringle’s group, the NEA, gave more than $2.4 million.
Biden himself received more than $245,000 from teacher’s unions during the campaign, more than four times the amount taken in by the next-closest candidate, Bernie Sanders.