Biden Criticized For School Claim
The White House and President Biden touted their accomplishments Monday, praising the swift actions taken by the administration that enabled all schools in the United States to 'safely open' for in-person instruction after the pandemic. But, not everyone is convinced these achievements should be celebrated.
The Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board lambasted the Biden administration in a piece titled, 'Biden's Rewriting of School Reopening History', accusing the president of attempting to take credit for something he had no role in bringing about.
“What an achievement—three and a half years after the start of the pandemic, all schools are open,” the WSJ wrote in the op-ed.
The paper continued to criticize the president for prioritizing the direction of teacher's unions over that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in regards to reopening schools.
“The Administration omits that its own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took dictation from union chief, Randi Weingarten, for its reopening guidelines.”
It adds, "[Biden] could have conditioned the nearly $200 billion in Covid funds that Congress appropriated for schools on their reopening. Instead, schools were showered with more money than they could usefully spend.”
Furthermore, the WSJ argued that any resulting improvement in student educational attainment was non-existent as test scores, student attendance, and academic progress remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Washington DC.
US President Joe Biden tells students returning to school: "The hardest thing is getting back to work after three months of doing nothing."PS: Maybe he speaks from personal experience as he has spent 40% of his presidency on vacation. pic.twitter.com/ShSujRm9Sz
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) August 28, 2023
"Nor has the Covid money done much to make up for learning loss. Eighth grade U.S. history test scores this year hit an all-time low. Average reading scores for 13-year-olds were the worst since the 1970s."
Finally, the paper scandalized the White House for their response to the situation, especially after President Biden joked about summer learning loss during a visit to a Washington D.C. middle school.
According to the WSJ, “It will take years for students to dig out of the pandemic hole, but the truth that honest Joe won’t acknowledge is it didn’t have to be so deep."
The paper concluded by referencing the 2020 election and the public rebuke of governors like Florida’s, Ron DeSantis for their push to reopen schools.
The editorial board noted Biden’s opinion of DeSantis, who said, "Floridians deserve science-based action from Gov. Ron DeSantis. While other large states continue to take strong, urgent, and sweeping action to stop the spread of COVID-19, Florida has not."
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.