As we approach the one-year anniversary of school closures, the Education Department is planning a summit ‘in March on how to safely reopen school’

A little late, people:

They are just now thinking about this?

— Andy Lancaster (@andylancaster) March 3, 2021

It’s literally this cartoon. You open the schools by OPENING THE DOORS:

pic.twitter.com/FuDiJS43RS

— mitrebox (@mitrebox) March 3, 2021

It’s also strange because schools are open all over the country:

Unnecessary. Other communities are well ahead this slow moving, science-denying dinosaur and have opened. https://t.co/41zTMVShH4

— Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) March 3, 2021

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The federal government planning a summit to figure out how to do something that many people are already doing is the most federal government thing in the history of federal government things. https://t.co/kOjlmvwzRC

— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) March 3, 2021

Just copy what they’re doing in Florida:

they should hold the summit in Florida. https://t.co/yy1zExVF9M

— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) March 3, 2021

Gov. Ron DeSantis should speak at the summit:

I see, in many parts of our country, a sad state of affairs: schools closed, businesses shuttered and lives destroyed. This calamitous reality is just the beginning of what will likely be long-term damage to children, families and society. pic.twitter.com/iJjwlDUK4u

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 2, 2021

Invite Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, too:

This is idiotic … God Bless Texas and @PearlandISD for opening schools LAST August/Sept and offering my kids in-person school this ENTIRE school year.

— JoeCookAssoc ?? (@JoeCookAssoc) March 3, 2021

President Biden also set a goal of having every teacher, school worker and childcare worker to have at least one does of the vaccine by the end of March:

BIDEN TO SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE: My challenge to all states, territories, and the District of Columbia is this: We want every educator, school staff member, childcare worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March.

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) March 3, 2021

Again, just OPEN THE SCHOOLS NOW:

"Right now, an entire generation of young people is on the brink of being set back a year or more in their learning. You can ask millions of parents; they understand. We’re already seeing rising mental health concerns due in part to isolation."

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) March 3, 2021

If the vaccines aren’t necessary, why wait?

"Let me be clear: We can reopen schools if the right steps are taken, even before employees are vaccinated. But time and again, we’ve heard from educators and parents that they have anxieties about that."

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) March 3, 2021

Thankfully, many states are already doing this:

"To help accelerate the safe reopening of our schools, let’s treat in-person learning like an essential service that it is. And that means getting essential workers who provide that service — educators, school staff, childcare workers — get them vaccinated immediately."

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) March 3, 2021

Full text here:

Full remarks here "This is a national imperative that we get our kids back into the classroom safely and as soon as possible" https://t.co/NP67cknrJB

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) March 3, 2021

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