Education
Chicago Public Schools brands collective action to stop in-person learning “illegal”
By Michael Walters, 22 January 2021
The district’s top human resources official issued a highly provocative letter threatening Chicago educators that any “collective failure” to return for in-person instruction “constitutes an illegal strike.”
Baltimore City Schools announces wide reopening of schools in mid-February
By Harvey Simpkins, 22 January 2021
The move has the support of the city’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott, making Baltimore the latest Democratic-led city or state to aggressively reopen schools as the pandemic rages out of control.
999 TX Educators R&F statement calling for investigation into Texan coup plotters
22 January 2021
The science of the pandemic supports teachers’ concerns over the dangers of school reopening, Part two
By Benjamin Mateus, 21 January 2021
Science validates teachers’ concerns that in-person education during the pandemic is a dangerous proposition. This article reviews some of the more recent scientific findings.
Despite outbreaks at 373 New York City schools, Democrats and unions conspire to keep the district open
By Sandy English, 21 January 2021
Since New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unilaterally reopened schools in early December with the support of the teachers union, statewide daily new cases have reached their worst point since the start of the pandemic.
Boston Teachers Union agrees to return to in-person classes for thousands of students
By Julian James, 21 January 2021
The agreement was reached a day before the BTU took part in last week’s phony “Day of Resistance” protest aimed at appealing to Biden and the Democratic Party.
Chicago educators form independent rank-and-file committee to fight school reopenings
Close schools and nonessential production until the pandemic is contained! Full income protection to all!
By Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 21 January 2021
We call on all educators and support staff, and workers from all industries, to join and help build our committee in your school or workplace, independently of both big-business parties and their backers in the CTU and other unions.
Tennessee educators and parents call for fully funded remote learning to contain the pandemic
By Tennessee Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 21 January 2021
In opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s scheme to pressure schools to reopen, we call for the immediate closure of all schools and for the provision of ample resources to provide high quality remote learning to all students.
New York City educators call for unified struggle with striking Hunts Point market workers!
New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 21 January 2021
Our brothers and sisters at Hunts Point have taken a courageous stand for the rights of workers everywhere, and we call on them to form their own rank-and-file committee independent of the Teamsters to carry forward their struggle.
Chicago Teachers Union postures with “strike” vote as schools continue in-person learning
By Alexander Fangmann, 20 January 2021
In response to overwhelming anger from teachers and parents over the continued drive to reopen schools and businesses in the city, the union’s House of Delegates is calling an emergency meeting Wednesday.
Alabama educators launch rank-and-file safety committee to close schools and save lives!
Alabama Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 20 January 2021
We call on all educators and support staff, and workers from all industries, to join and help build our committee in your school or workplace, independently of both big-business parties and their backers in the unions.
999 Boston schools reopening facilitated by union
20 January 2021
999 Chicago Educators R&F Committee founding statement
20 January 2021
The science of the pandemic supports teachers’ concerns over the dangers of school reopening—Part one
By Benjamin Mateus, 20 January 2021
Science validates teachers’ concerns that in-person education during the pandemic is a dangerous proposition. This article reviews some of the more recent scientific findings.
School worker deaths mount in Florida as virus spreads without restraint
By Alex Johnson, 20 January 2021
Two public school workers from Florida died earlier this month after contracting COVID-19 under conditions of an unmitigated spread of the virus in school districts statewide.
Local reports of COVID-19 deaths in UK schools confirm concealed impact of pandemic
By Harvey Thompson, 19 January 2021
Prior to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s January 4 lockdown announcement, the government had even threatened legal action against those schools intending to close due to high infection rates.
999 Tennessee Educators R&F statement
19 January 2021
999 Boston schools reopening facilitated by union
19 January 2021
999 Chicago schools update or r/f statement
19 January 2021
Educators and workers across the US denounce arrest of whistleblower Rebekah Jones
By Matthew MacEgan, 19 January 2021
Jones, who faces persecution in response to her efforts to expose the spread of the pandemic in Florida and in K-12 schools across the US, was released on bond after turning herself in to Florida police.
School nurses return to campuses as United Teachers Los Angeles covers for Democrats
By Tadakatsu Čapek, 18 January 2021
Two years after betraying the strike by 33,000 teachers, the United Teachers Los Angeles is collaborating with state and local Democrats to reopen schools in the epicenter of the world pandemic.
999 Chicago schools update or r/f statement
18 January 2021
Canadian educators must mount a political struggle to oppose school reopenings and save lives
By Omar Ali, 18 January 2021
Whatever the specific timetables of the various provincial governments, they are all determined to force educators, students, and support staff back into unsafe school buildings as the COVID-19 pandemic surges.
Ontario teacher denounces unions’ “feckless response” to government’s ruinous handling of the pandemic
By A letter from an Ontario teacher, 18 January 2021
“What is emerging among educators not just in Ontario or Canada, but throughout the world is the realization that educators must rely on our biggest asset and resource—that is ourselves!”
999 Latest science on school reopenings
18 January 2021
Network Meeting of the Action Committees for Safe Education: Pupils, workers and students discuss perspectives for a European-wide general strike
By Our reporters, 16 January 2021
In introducing the meeting, Gregor Link of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality referred to the now almost 400,000 confirmed COVID deaths in the European Union.
Teachers and parents speak out on deadly reopening of Chicago Public Schools
By Our reporters, 15 January 2021
There is growing opposition throughout Chicago to the city’s Democratic leaders aggressive push to reopen schools, bars and restaurants as COVID-19 infections are ripping through schools and other workplaces.
Sri Lankan education safety committee holds well-attended online meeting
By Our correspondents, 15 January 2021
Participants discussed the need to build a network of education action committees to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
Chicago Teachers Union accepts further reopenings as virus outbreaks erupt in schools
By Alexander Fangmann, 15 January 2021
A potential cluster of infections has emerged at McCutcheon Elementary on the city’s North Side, leaving just one educator in the building, while the CTU works to isolate teachers and prevent them from taking any independent initiative.
Biden’s top economic advisor demands that “schools open” so parents “can get back to work”
By Bryan Dyne, 15 January 2021
Such efforts will only spur the pandemic to ever greater heights of death in a country where there are already more than 3,400 newly reported deaths each day.
Poorest UK schoolchildren sent meagre pandemic food parcels, as contractors reap massive profits
By Robert Stevens, 14 January 2021
Many expressed disgust and denounced the profiteering from poverty during the school closures necessitated by the pandemic
Australia: Regional high school teachers walk out over understaffing and unbearable workloads
By Kaye Tucker, 14 January 2021
The stoppage is the latest indication of growing opposition to the program of school amalgamations being enforced by the New South Wales Liberal government, with the assistance of Labor and the unions.
New data shows that nearly 1400 kids in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have caught COVID-19
By James Vega, Debra Watson and Eboni Davis, 14 January 2021
Since mid-October more than 13,500 people in the U.P. contracted the virus, a three-fold increase since the pandemic began in March.
999 Exposure of NEU, teachers unions' "Day of Resistance"
14 January 2021
DSA-aligned teachers unions’ “Day of Resistance”: a pathetic appeal to Biden and the Democrats
By Evan Blake, 14 January 2021
Tuesday’s event, organized by an umbrella group of teacher unions led by pseudo-left officials, was a political stunt aimed at channeling opposition to in-person instruction behind dead-end appeals to the Democratic Party.
999 Exposure of NEU, teachers unions' "Day of Resistance"
13 January 2021
UK Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee warns of packed schools amid an escalating pandemic and third lockdown
By Our reporter, 13 January 2021
The first Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee meeting of this year met after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a third lockdown, after being faced with the threat of mass walkouts and boycotts by educators and parents that could spread to other sections of workers.
Chicago teachers docked pay and locked out of virtual classrooms for not teaching in-person
By Alexander Fangmann, 13 January 2021
As district officials continue to peddle lies about the safety of reopening schools, CTU is negotiating over a reopening plan that would split the working class and undermine the struggle to close non-essential workplaces until mass vaccination is carried out.
999 Exposure of NEU, teachers unions' "Day of Resistance"
12 January 2021
Report documents education inequality in Australia
By Carolyn Kennett, 12 January 2021
The data points to the long-term impacts on young people of a two-tiered system of education that perpetuates inequality.
Massive protest in Berlin against plans to reopen schools
By Markus Salzmann, 12 January 2021
Despite widespread opposition and clear scientific evidence that schools are a major driver of the pandemic, the Berlin state legislature of the Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party is sticking to the herd immunity policy in the interests of big business.
999 Standardized testing in schools during pandemic
12 January 2021
Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee in US holds first national meeting of 2021
Matthew MacEgan, 11 January 2021
The first ERFSC meeting of 2021 was attended by over 150 educators and other workers from across the US and around the globe.
West Virginia schools slated to return to in-person instruction next week
By Naomi Spencer, 11 January 2021
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has ordered elementary and middle schools to reopen for daily in-person instruction beginning January 19, even as infections and deaths surge.
German schools and day-care centres to reopen despite record death rates and new infections
By Gregor Link, 11 January 2021
Despite schools being the central driver of the pandemic, the education ministers in Germany’s federal states have decided on a “resumption of face-to-face teaching” as soon as possible.
As students return to Chicago schools, educators face battle against Democrats and the CTU
By Alexander Fangmann, 11 January 2021
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and school officials continue to press bringing children back into classrooms on Monday in the face of widespread opposition among parents, teachers and other educators.
Texas educators oppose Trump’s fascist coup and the drive to reopen schools
Texas Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 9 January 2021
We are fighting to unify the working class across Texas and throughout the region to close all schools and nonessential businesses and oppose the fascistic conspiracies of Trump.
Tennessee Education Association estimates more than 16,000 Tennessee educators have had COVID-19
By Harvey Simpkins, 9 January 2021
In response to a recent survey conducted by the Tennessee Educators Association over 84 percent of educators reported a negative “emotional impact” from working in public education during the pandemic.
School districts across the US push to reopen as COVID-19 infections and death soar
By Emma Arceneaux, 8 January 2021
With the surge of infections overwhelming health systems across the country, state and local governments led by both Democrats and Republicans continue to restart in-person schooling.
Arts, humanities are first on the chopping block as US state governments face deficits
By Andrew Timon, 8 January 2021
These cuts are just the first expression of what is to come if there is no organized opposition in defense of education and particularly the arts and humanities.
Shippensburg faculty member demands action to save jobs and university education for working-class students
By Douglas Lyons, 8 January 2021
Layoffs, the closing of schools, and academic cuts are being pushed by the new chancellor at Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
“It’s going to take the working class to stop them”
Workers denounce Trump’s coup
By our reporters, 8 January 2021
Autoworkers, teachers, retirees and other sections of the working class reacted with outrage as fascist supporters of President Trump stormed the US Capitol Wednesday afternoon, forcibly disrupting the certification of Biden’s presidential victory.
German teachers’ union backs in-person learning as COVID-19 deaths soar
By Martin Nowak and Christoph Vandreier, 7 January 2021
In enforcing their inhumane pandemic policies, the federal and state governments, consisting of a broad range of political coalitions, can rely on the close cooperation of Germany’s trade unions.
California governor pressures schools to reopen as health care system nears collapse
By Dan Conway, 7 January 2021
As COVID-19 cases and deaths break records, California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state will provide cash-strapped districts with extra funding if they resume unsafe in-person learning.
COVID-19 deaths surge amid record new cases as Britain enters lockdown
By Robert Stevens, 6 January 2021
At a Downing Street press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to acknowledge that more than 1.1 million people now had the virus in England.
999 CTU official travels to Puerto Rico as schools open
6 January 2021
Chicago Teachers Union leader partied in Puerto Rico as teachers were herded back into schools
By Kristina Betinis and Jerry White, 6 January 2021
The incident exposed the class gulf between the union and rank-and-file educators, who are fighting to protect their lives as the Democratic Lightfoot administration forces a return to dangerous schools.
Brazilian state governments push to reopen schools as COVID-19 deaths approach 200,000
By Gabriel Lemos, 5 January 2021
Brazil’s ruling elite is declaring education an essential service in order to reopen schools, even as the pandemic spirals out of control.
999 El Paso teacher's death and reopening of Texas schools
5 January 2021
Hundreds of Arizona teachers stage sickouts to prevent in-person learning as cases skyrocket
By Renae Cassimeda, 5 January 2021
At least 750 Phoenix-area teachers are expected to participate in sickouts Tuesday in opposition to schools reopening to in-person instruction this week amid record surges in COVID-19 cases throughout Arizona.
Chicago schools press ahead with reopening despite wide opposition among teachers and parents
By Alexander Fangmann, 5 January 2021
Even though only 23 percent of families opted to return their students to in-person schooling, the district has maintained its aggressive push to bring educators and children back into classrooms.
999 CTU official travels to Puerto Rico, right wing uses to push to reopen Chicago schools
5 January 2021
Beloved El Paso, Texas teacher dies from COVID-19 as Governor presses schools to reopen
By Tony Jackson, 5 January 2021
The reopening of schools across Texas, enforced by Republican Governor Greg Abbott has been a major factor behind the surge of the pandemic in El Paso and throughout the state since August.
Sri Lanka webinar: Education safety committee to discuss the fight against unsafe school reopenings
By Safety Committee of Teachers and Students and Parents (Sri Lanka), 4 January 2021
Urgent action must be taken to save lives, and secure the right to education, against the Rajapakse government’s hazardous return-to-work policies.
With 4,500 deaths in just eight days and nearly 400,000 new Covid cases
UK teaching unions call for no work in “unsafe schools” as opposition among educators mounts
By Robert Stevens, 4 January 2021
Schools have been a major vector for the spread of COVID-19, worsened by a new and more contagious variant of the disease.
Illinois high school student dies of COVID-19
By Andy Thompson, 4 January 2021
A senior at Lincoln Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois, Sarah Simental was just a few months from graduating in the spring.
Opposition mounts in US over deadly rush to restart in-person schooling
By Jerry White, 4 January 2021
Tens of thousands of students are returning to schools in New York City, Palm Beach, Florida, and many other districts today, provoking widespread concern and opposition from teachers, support staff and parents.
Macron government refuses calls to cancel school reopenings as pandemic surges
By Will Morrow, 4 January 2021
The Macron government has refused calls by medical specialists and teacher and parent groups for the cancellation or postponement of in-person classes.
“Every death is a catastrophe. We should be angry about this.”
Curator of Earth Felt the Wound, site tracking US educators’ deaths, speaks to the WSWS
By Nancy Hanover, 4 January 2021
The World Socialist Web Site interviewed the administrator of a new website tracking educator deaths since the return to school last fall.
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education lays off educators, closes schools
By Douglas Lyons and Samuel Davidson, 4 January 2021
As with hundreds of other colleges and universities around the country, at PASSHE the pandemic has prompted massive shortfalls in revenue, compelling school officials to lay off faculty and staff and reduce educational opportunities for students.
Opening of schools in Germany based on deliberate lies and deception
By Gregor Link, 4 January 2021
The criminality with which the campaign to open schools has been conducted was recently demonstrated by the deliberate suppression of a study from Hamburg showing massive outbreaks were taking place within schools in Germany.
As COVID-19 spreads, New York City schools prepare to reopen Monday after holiday break
By Sandy English, 31 December 2020
Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week that schools were safe and would reopen on January 4, as the pandemic continues to spread throughout the city and the state plans massive cuts to education funding.
Biden and Democrats rush to reopen schools in new year as COVID-19 death toll climbs
By Jerry White, 31 December 2020
Dozens of large urban school districts in the United States—from San Diego, Tacoma and Denver to Chicago, Atlanta and Washington DC—plan to restart in-person schooling in the opening weeks of the new year, even as health experts predict January will see a “surge on top of a surge” of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
Chicago officials refuse teacher accommodations in order to force school reopenings
By Alexander Fangmann, 31 December 2020
While the district is ordering roughly 5,800 educators to report to schools on Monday as COVID-19 cases in the city remain dangerously high, the Chicago Teachers Union is working to prevent any coordinated and effective fight.
Emergency meeting of the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education
German high school student: “If we don’t close the schools, no one will!”
German high school student: “If we don’t close the schools, no one will!”
By Gregor Link, 30 December 2020
Faced with death tolls unseen in Europe since World War II, the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education in Germany convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday to advance the fight for school closures and discuss prospects for a general strike against the politics of mass infection with the coronavirus.
Detroit schools chief Vitti gets pay raise, as unions initial unsafe reopenings and poverty pay for staff
By James Vega and Nancy Hanover, 30 December 2020
Detroit schools are presently set to reopen for face-to-face instruction in the coming weeks, threatening countless lives as the pandemic continues to deepen in the region.
California educators, healthcare and logistics workers: Unite to stop COVID-19 and save lives now!
By Northern California Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 29 December 2020
Urgent and far-reaching action is needed to prevent the reopening of schools and stop the spread of the pandemic across California this winter. Join our committee now!
A young Berlin teacher dies from coronavirus: An indictment of the city’s pandemic policy
By Ulrich Rippert, 29 December 2020
The death of a young teacher in Berlin following a coronavirus infection confirms the criminal nature of the official policy of keeping open businesses and schools.
Connecticut educators denounce right-wing record of Biden’s pick for Education Secretary
By Robert Milkowski, 24 December 2020
Interviews with the WSWS and comments on social media from rank-and-file educators in Connecticut upend the narrative spun by the corporate media and the teachers unions about incoming Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
Washington D.C. teachers union reaches agreement with Democratic mayor to reopen schools
By Harvey Simpkins, 24 December 2020
The deal reached last week entails the broad reopening of schools in which teachers could be required to return to in-person teaching.
Alabama doubles down on school reopenings, as healthcare catastrophe hits the state
By Emma Arceneaux, 24 December 2020
As the state death toll in Alabama surpasses 4,500, with ICU beds near capacity, Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) sent teachers a menacing memo threatening that they must be prepared to return to unsafe schools January 4.
Student rent strikers speak out at UK universities
By Ioan Petrescu, 24 December 2020
The World Socialist Web Site spoke with representatives of the rent strikes that began at the University of London and Goldsmiths University earlier this month.
Build action committees to oppose a return to UK schools and campuses in January!
By Statement of the UK Educator’s Rank-and-File Safety Committee:, 24 December 2020
The protection of children and educators can only develop as part of an independent movement of the working class in a struggle against the capitalist profit system, which sacrifices the safety and basic needs of workers to the profit drive of the ruling elite.
Australian educators call for the defence of COVID-19 whistleblower Rebekah Jones
By Sue Phillips, 23 December 2020
Teachers and support staff at Footscray High in Melbourne met in the final days of the school year to show their support for Jones.
Biden picks Education Secretary committed to opening schools as pandemic rages
By Evan Blake, 23 December 2020
While education commissioner in Connecticut, Miguel Cardona has been a forceful advocate of reopening schools, which Biden has stated will be a top “national priority” upon taking office.
Democrats press to open schools across the US as pandemic surges
By Jerry White, 22 December 2020
In line with President-elect Joe Biden’s stated aim to reopen America’s schools, Democratic mayors and governors are moving to resume in-person teaching even as infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 continue to reach new highs.
Berlin teacher dies following COVID-19 infection
By Markus Salzmann, 22 December 2020
The death of Soydan A., a young teacher who taught at a community school in Berlin-Kreuzberg, is due to the reckless school opening policy amid a pandemic that has been spreading rapidly for months.
999 (12/20) CPS hires 2000 teachers to reopen
21 December 2020
New Zealand’s border restrictions leave thousands of students stranded
By Tom Peters, 21 December 2020
Around 5,200 international students enrolled in New Zealand have been stuck offshore this year and many are facing significant financial hardship due to the country’s draconian border restrictions.
“It’s like the frontlines of a war!”
Washington educators denounce Democratic Governor Jay Inslee’s plan to reopen schools
By Diana Green, 21 December 2020
Following decisions in New York City and Oregon, Democratic Governor Jay Inslee has updated the school reopening guidelines for Washington state to allow the return of at least some students in every district, regardless of the rate of infection and death.
999 Washington, DC schools reopening update
21 December 2020
Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Teachers Union advance deadly school reopening plans
By Kristina Betinis and Michael Walters, 21 December 2020
Amid record COVID-19 deaths, the Chicago Teachers Union is working with city leaders to begin bringing teachers back to school buildings January 4.
999 San Francisco schools propose to remove Lincoln from school name
19 December 2020
Texas educators call for united struggle in defense of whistleblower Rebekah Jones
Texas Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 18 December 2020
We call on all Florida educators to come to the defense of Jones and the scientific principles for which she stands, and to build a statewide Florida Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee like ours in Texas.
“What they did to Jones—they’ll do to anyone who threatens their bottom line”
American workers denounce police raid on COVID-19 whistleblower Rebekah Jones
By Evan Blake, 18 December 2020
The WSWS is publishing statements of support for Jones, whose Florida home was raided last week in response to her efforts to expose the spread of the pandemic in Florida and in K-12 schools across the US.
Attacks on Australian university jobs deepen but union boasts it is “stronger”
By Mike Head, 18 December 2020
Judging by the NTEU’s annual report, the union leadership is proud of its achievement in presiding over unprecedented job losses.
German government increases military spending, cuts education and health care
By Johannes Stern, 17 December 2020
The entire budget debate underscored that the ruling class sees the pandemic primarily as an opportunity to advance its policies of militarism, repression and social austerity.
The deadly impact of US college reopenings in the fall, a balance sheet
By Genevieve Leigh, 17 December 2020
The experience over the last four months in the schools, both K-12 and college campuses, has produced incontrovertible evidence that in-person learning leads to an increase in community spread of COVID-19.
Tennessee high school coach’s death underscores dangers of school reopenings and sports
By Warren Duzak, 17 December 2020
David Picklesimer, a 55-year-old high school teacher and coach, is one of hundreds of educators that have died of COVID-19.
New York City educators, parents and students must organize a strike to close all schools!
New York City Educators Rank-and File Safety Committee, 17 December 2020
Urgent action is required to close all schools and nonessential workplaces to stop the spread of the pandemic and save lives.
Follow the WSWS