Asked about kids eating lunch silently or outdoors, Jen Psaki praises schools' 'creativity' in keeping kids safe

We can’t verify the location or grade level, but a video recently went viral purporting to show kindergarteners in Portland eating lunch outdoors in the cold. We also don’t have much reason to believe it isn’t authentic, seeing as we’ve done stories on kids eating lunch outdoors in the cold and rain from New York to California. As we recently reported, a New York City school was asking parents if their kids had permission to eat indoors on the floor, silently, because it was getting cold out. Here’s that video from Portland:

Kindergarteners in Portland school are forced to each lunch outdoors in 40 degree weather to properly social distance. This is child abuse. pic.twitter.com/y5n9NeDRIG

— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) December 8, 2021

Asked about this phenomenon, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted that only recently has the COVID-19 vaccine been approved for kids ages 5 to 11 and praised schools’ “creativity” in keeping kids in school and safe.

Psaki: to "keep kids safe" they need to eat silently/outdoors/distanced because 5-11 vax only recently approved

This is misinformation. Unvaccinated kids are at *lower* risk than vaccinated adults, who have the liberty to eat indoors at tables and talk pic.twitter.com/0lhKEkXVBR

— David Zweig (@davidzweig) December 11, 2021

The worst part is cheering the "creativity." We don't need creativity, we need leadership that explains the relative lack of risk to kids accurately. Creativity is why my son's school has plastic dividers in the cafeteria which we know are ineffective.

— Ryan Connell (@connellryan1) December 11, 2021

They can’t admit students can eat normally at school because then people would question why kids need masks in classrooms but not cafeterias, and why schools were shuttered for a year. Their strategy is to insist on continuing all theatrics until all are vaccinated.

— Julie Aseltine (@AseltineN6) December 11, 2021

No, this is to teach kids compliance very early on when they are not with their parents. This sounds like pre prison camp so dissent is less in a few years.
Healthy kids are not at risk with Covid. This is known & respected in other countries based on how they treat kids.

— Seeking Truth (@TruthKms8103) December 11, 2021

Ridiculous.

— The Algo Guy (@TheAlgoGuy) December 11, 2021

Yet another example of public schools being run primarily for the benefit of the adults involved, rather than the children.

— Moses Kagan (@moseskagan) December 11, 2021

I can go to a coffee shop and sit unmasked for hours, but my eight year old has to eat silent lunch because science. Amazing

— Mandy Henderly (@MandyHenderly) December 11, 2021

We have way too many truly awful people in positions of power.

— Derek BB (@Unclerico9806) December 11, 2021

Evil lunacy

— Joseph Murray (@WeGotMediums) December 11, 2021

It is criminal what we are doing to our children. Thank goodness I live in Texas where they can be children without being scared to death to live.

— gamblin rebel (@dunkin1008) December 11, 2021

Her belief that the “vast majority” support this stuff is HILARIOUS. Her head is fully buried in the sand

— Chris Munce (@chrismunce) December 11, 2021

Get your kids away from these freaks.

— Baba Yaga 🥩 (@desmondtitus_) December 11, 2021

I am so sick of this safetyism at the expense of mental health. This ridiculous desire for Democrats to "do something" – nomatter how ridiculous – is why they are losing elections. @PressSec, nobody cares what your three year old thinks. We care about big picture health/wellness.

— Calm Cosmo (@calmcosmo) December 11, 2021

Every time I hear stuff like this from the administration/Dems, I see our chances in ‘22 and ‘24 looking even better.

— John B. Buchanan (@JBarnett68) December 11, 2021

Thoughts and prayers to the Dems for the midterms. It's like watching a slow motion own goal.

— Mo Perry (@MoMoPerry) December 11, 2021

You know her 3-year-old will still be wearing a mask to school even after they’ve approved the vaccine for toddlers.

Related:

School asks parents if their kids have permission to eat lunch inside on the floor when it’s too cold outside https://t.co/ImxuwURrnk

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 9, 2021