Teachers union leader Randi Weingarten: Schools should open in fall chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The head of the second-largest teachers union in the United States is calling on a full return to five-day-a-week in-person learning at all schools in the fall, declaring that her organization was “all-in.”
In an address posted on social media, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers said that with more and more Americans becoming eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, it is imperative that schools fully reopen for students and staff during the next academic year.
“Conditions have changed,” she said. We can and we must reopen schools in the fall for in-person teaching, learning, and support. And keep them open. Fully and safely, five days a week.”
US Teachers Union President Calls for Full Fall School Reopening
Voice of America
14 May 2021, 06:05 GMT+10
The president of the American Federation of Teachers said Thursday that there should be a full return to in-person learning in the fall and that her union was all in on bringing students back to the classroom.
In an address on social media, Randi Weingarten said the wide availability of vaccines and a new infusion of federal education money had removed many obstacles that prevented schools from opening. Conditions have changed, Weingarten said. We can and we must reopen schools in the fall for in-person teaching, learning and support. And keep them open. Fully and safely, five days a week.
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Source: AP Photo/Susan Walsh
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten, who has gained national attention in recent weeks over schools reopening, pivoted her stance on returning to in-person learning.
For months, Weingarten and other union officials have lobbied for schools to remain virtual at least in part. The AFT even reportedly had influence over the Biden administration’s guidance for reopening schools. AFT and other teachers unions also bankrolled Democrat lawmakers this past year for continually keeping schools closed.
Now, Weingarten has reversed course and acknowledges the need for children to be in school fully, in-person, five days a week.
John Hanna, Associated Press
photo by: John Hanna/AP
In this photo from Friday, April 16, 2021, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions from reporters following an event at the Statehouse in Topeka. Kelly has announced that state government agencies will resume normal operations starting the week of June 13, 2021, after months of having many employees work remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.Â
TOPEKA Kansas state government offices will return to normal operations in mid-June after more than a year of having many employees work remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.
But Kelly said state employees and visitors to their offices still will be required to wear masks and to maintain social distancing. She also said agency directors can allow people to work from home, particularly when social distancing is not possible, provided “there is no disruption to agency operations.” The changes take effect the week of June 13, w