Education
Mounting opposition by teachers against drive to reopen schools
By Benjamin Mateus, 6 August 2020
Evidence is growing that the reopening of schools will lead to a massive resurgence of the pandemic, with deadly consequences for teachers and students.
Altered CDC guidelines provide unscientific basis for reopening schools
By Mitch Marcus, 6 August 2020
The CDC guidelines were adjusted in mid-July to suit the demands of the Trump administration that schools reopen, as part the broader campaign to reopen the economy.
Two Florida teenagers die from COVID-19 as schools push to reopen
By Alex Johnson, 6 August 2020
These harrowing deaths come a month after a 9-year-old, Kimora Lynum, from Putman County, became the youngest child added to Florida’s COVID-19 death toll.
Resuming college football driven by financial interests
By Andy Thompson, 6 August 2020
In order to protect billions in revenue, US universities are resorting to threats and cover-ups to keep their plans to play football in the fall on track.
NTEU enforces deep pay and job cuts at Australian universities
By Mike Head, 6 August 2020
In the latest outrage, the union is urging Adelaide University staff members to take wage cuts of up to 15 percent and still accept the elimination of 200 jobs.
US teachers defy threats to cut funding for schools that delay in-person learning
By Phyllis Steele, 5 August 2020
Republican-controlled legislatures in several states are moving to cut funding and outsource the jobs of teachers if schools do not open with full in-person learning.
New York educators oppose city and state school reopening plans
By Sandy English, 5 August 2020
Teachers in New York are determined to prevent the unsafe reopening of schools by the Democratic mayor and governor.
Lancet warns of massive resurgence of coronavirus after UK school reopening
By Thomas Scripps, 5 August 2020
Medical professionals warn that schools cannot be reopened safely when testing and tracing are grossly inadequate and there is already a resurgence of the pandemic.
UK teachers’ pay award: A shoddy deal for all
By Tom Pearce, 5 August 2020
The offer is divisive and paltry. It will not be funded nationally by the Johnson government, but out of school budgets which are chronically under-funded.
Brazilian teachers oppose back-to-school drive
By our correspondents, 5 August 2020
Amid intense opposition from teachers and parents, private schools were reopened last month in the state of Amazonas and this week in Rio de Janeiro.
COVID-19 surges in Spain as government pushes reopening of schools
By Alejandro López, 5 August 2020
The return to school is a criminal policy exposing children, teachers, families and neighbourhoods to serious illness and death.
For a nationwide general strike to halt the drive to reopen schools!
By Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 5 August 2020
Mass opposition by teachers to the criminal policies of the ruling class will galvanize support among all workers in the United States and throughout the world.
Drive to reopen US schools continues despite mounting evidence of deadly consequences
By Evan Blake, 3 August 2020
More scientific research shows the immense dangers to the health and lives of teachers, students and parents by reopening schools while the pandemic continues out of control.
Scottish government prepares to reopen schools as new COVID-19 spikes emerge
By Steve James, 3 August 2020
The government intends to re-open all primary and secondary schools by August 18, despite COVID-19 outbreaks in call centres, distribution centres, pubs and care homes.
As COVID-19 ravages Brazil, governments promote homicidal reopening of schools
By Tomas Castanheira, 1 August 2020
The attempt by big business politicians to reopen schools in the country faces massive opposition from educators and working-class families.
Reopening of schools in Germany puts the lives of children and educators at stake
By Andrea Reissner, 1 August 2020
The situation is highly dangerous. Since the easing of the coronavirus restrictions, the number of cases in Europe, and in Germany, is once again on the rise.
Universities prepare to blame students for COVID-19 outbreaks
By Trévon Austin, 1 August 2020
Universities are hoping the personal responsibility of students will be sufficient enough to contain outbreaks on campuses.
Hundreds of thousands mobilize on social media to oppose US school reopenings
By Evan Blake, 31 July 2020
An explosion of opposition to the unsafe reopening of schools has developed on social media, primarily through dozens of Facebook groups with a combined global membership of over 300,000.
“Capitalism is being exposed for what it is”
The school transportation crisis in the age of coronavirus
By Nancy Hanover, 31 July 2020
School bus drivers in Pennsylvania and New York spoke with the WSWS about the conditions they face amid the escalating campaign to reopen schools.
As opposition mounts to reopening of schools, US teacher union opposes national strike
By David Brown, 30 July 2020
The American Federation of Teachers resolved to limit safety strikes to locals “on a case-by-case basis as a last resort.”
Australia: International students voice anger over wage theft, poor working conditions
By our reporters, 30 July 2020
One student said that he lives “hand to mouth. I cannot save anything. I pay so much for the fees at university and there are no jobs.”
Australia: Committee for Public Education holds online forum on COVID-19 threat
By our reporters, 30 July 2020
“We are either going to have to roll over and accept what is going on, that workers are going to be sacrificed for capitalism, or we are going to have to rebel and have an uprising of some kind.”
Teachers face battle as Trump pushes school reopenings
By Evan Blake, 28 July 2020
After waging years of strikes and protests against cuts to school funding and wages, educators in the US now face a direct confrontation with the Trump administration over its drive to reopen schools.
White House brands teachers “essential workers” to force reopening of schools
By Evan Blake, 27 July 2020
With the coronavirus pandemic raging out of control, the Trump administration is escalating its homicidal campaign to reopen schools across the US.
Dozens of Australian schools shut down after coronavirus outbreaks
By Patrick Kelly, 27 July 2020
Keeping the schools open is regarded as a central aspect of the reopening of the economy and the continued provision of an exploitable workforce.
British universities plan tens of thousands of job cuts
By Simon Whelan, 25 July 2020
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, 33 percent of academic staff in the UK were on fixed-term contracts in 2017–18.
Growing wave of educators’ protests forces Trump to throw a financial sop to schools
By Nancy Hanover, 24 July 2020
Trump’s apparent climbdown from his insistence that schools must “fully” open “ASAP” indicates the deep crisis of the administration and growing fears of the political mobilization of educators, parents and students.
Despite withdrawal of ICE ruling, international students in the US remain at risk
By Sam Dalton, 22 July 2020
Amid an intensifying anti-immigrant and anti-China campaign, Trump’s tactical retreat from the July 6 ruling putting international students at risk of deportation is not any cause for celebration.
As opposition mounts to reopening of the schools
Missouri governor says children infected with COVID-19 will “get over it”
By Evan Blake, 21 July 2020
The campaign to reopen schools across the US, spearheaded by the Trump administration and supported by the entire political establishment, is provoking widespread opposition among educators.
Israeli police deploy tear gas and water cannon against anti-Netanyahu demonstrators
By Jean Shaoul, 20 July 2020
Around 2,000 people protested outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem in one of a series of demonstrations demanding his resignation.
Hawaii officials push unsafe reopening of schools despite outcry by educators and parents
By Renae Cassimeda and Liz Laliberte, 18 July 2020
The reopening of the schools, along with the the lifting of travel restrictions in Hawaii, will greatly exacerbate the spread of the virus throughout the islands.
Michigan teen sent to juvenile detention for failing to do her homework
By Will McCalliss and Nancy Hanover, 18 July 2020
Amid the chaotic transition to online learning during the pandemic, a teenage girl has been taken into criminal custody for “failure to submit any schoolwork.”
White House declares that “science should not stand in the way” of reopening schools
By Evan Blake, 17 July 2020
The principles of public health and science, which are in alignment with the social interests of the working class, stand diametrically opposed to the insatiable drive for profit.
Charter schools cash in on “small business” Paycheck Protection Program
By Mitch Marcus, 16 July 2020
PPP has been a boondoggle of monumental proportions, funneling essentially free cash to major corporations.
“We’re just cannon fodder. This is a policy about economics not safety.”
Teachers, educators and parents speak out against UK September school reopening
By our reporters, 16 July 2020
The Johnson government plans to fully reopen schools nationally in September despite the heightened risks from COVID-19 transmission.
Haphazard plans to reopen US schools spur growing opposition among educators
By Renae Cassimeda, 15 July 2020
The reckless move to rapidly reopen schools coincides with the homicidal drive by the ruling class to force workers back on the job amid the deepening COVID-19 pandemic.
Death of Arizona teacher exposes lies about safely reopening schools
By Phyllis Steele, 15 July 2020
Kimberley Chavez Lopez Byrd, 61, died on June 26 after contracting COVID-19 as she and other teachers taught students remotely from a shared classroom.
Jennifer Jones speaks on UK Boycott Return To Unsafe Schools campaign
By Tom Pearce, 15 July 2020
The Facebook site of the group has created a map of school closures due to outbreaks, which is a powerful source of information for parents.
Australian teachers and school staff condemn return to classrooms in Victoria
By Sue Phillips, 15 July 2020
Teachers and educators speak out against the state Labor government’s order to reopen schools despite a COVID-19 surge in Melbourne.
Australian authorities sought to cover-up asbestos removal at Newcastle school
By Robert Campion, 15 July 2020
The debacle is part of a decades-long scandal concerning the use of asbestos in public buildings, involving successive Labor and Liberal governments.
Teacher unions support drive to reopen US schools as pandemic explodes
By David Brown, 14 July 2020
As COVID-19 cases soar across the country, the AFT and NEA are striving to channel teachers’ anger over the forced reopening behind the right-wing presidential campaign of Democrat Joseph Biden.
New York City releases dangerous school reopening plans
By Sandy English and Steve Light, 14 July 2020
The announcement last week by Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio that public schools would reopen on an alternating-day schedule has provoked concern and opposition among parents and educators.
Anger grows as Australian state Labor government sends teachers and senior students back to school in Melbourne
By Patrick Kelly, 14 July 2020
The sweeping return to school, amid a worsening COVID-19 surge, represents a threat to public safety.
Seventeen states and tens of universities file lawsuits against ICE attack on international students
By Sam Dalton, 14 July 2020
Even if the current set of lawsuits are successful, the immigration and educational rights of international students remain under threat.
Georgia Tech faculty, students and parents express opposition to school reopening
By Kranti Kumara, 13 July 2020
The university reopening plans in Georgia come in the context of the Trump administration’s reactionary push for the reopening of industries and businesses
US ruling class demands deadly reopening of schools
By Evan Blake, 13 July 2020
The escalating campaign to reopen US schools in the fall, under conditions of an explosive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a key element of a conscious, bipartisan policy that will lead to countless preventable deaths.
Haymarket Books “Abolitionist Teaching” forum: A call to promote racial division among teachers
By Renae Cassimeda and Norissa Santa Cruz, 13 July 2020
As workers in every industry unite across racial lines to fight against the Trump administration’s back-to-work campaign, Haymarket is promoting racial divisions and blaming teachers’ supposed “white privilege” for the crisis facing public education.
Demands mount for racial quotas at elite US universities
By Jonathan Burleigh, 13 July 2020
There is nothing democratic or progressive about the mandating of quotas of different races at schools or workplaces.
999 Death of Arizona teacher
13 July 2020
“The decision to reopen schools shouldn’t be political. It should be made by medical experts.”
Teachers speak out against Trump’s push to reopen schools
By Mitch Marcus and Kimie Saito, 11 July 2020
The WSWS spoke with two teachers about the dangerous push by the Trump administration to reopen schools in the fall as the COVID-19 pandemic spirals out of control.
“A large-scale struggle and strong opposition is needed”
CUNY students and faculty call for resistance to layoffs and cuts
By Elliott Murtagh, 10 July 2020
The WSWS spoke to students and faculty at the City University of New York about recent austerity measures.
NTEU steps up collaboration with Australian university managements amid job cuts “tsunami”
By Mike Head, 10 July 2020
The union is pushing ahead with deals to impose unprecedented sacrifices on university workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
US Supreme Court decisions attack separation of church and state and workers’ rights
By Ed Hightower, 9 July 2020
The court’s assault on workers takes the form of an assault on secularism.
Students oppose Trump’s threat to deport international students
By our reporters, 9 July 2020
The Trump administration’s effort to use international students as a bargaining chip to force the reopening of colleges is part of a push to get the economy back open while also scapegoating immigrants for the pandemic.
Rutgers University announces hundreds of layoffs, intends to charge students full tuition in the fall
By Shuvu Batta, 9 July 2020
The layoffs and furloughs must be fought, and students must reject the enormous tuition and student loan debt that they are being compelled to pay for virtual courses.
Trump’s back-to-work diktat threatens teachers’ lives
By Evan Blake, 9 July 2020
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump demanded that US schools reopen in the fall amid a raging pandemic, threatening the lives of thousands of teachers.
Florida orders schools to reopen as COVID-19 cases surge
By David Brown, 8 July 2020
The Florida Department of Education is ordering schools to physically open in August, threatening the lives of teachers and students.
“Literacy is a clean window onto the world ...”
100 years since formation of Soviet Extraordinary Commission for the Liquidation of Illiteracy
By Patrick O’Connor, 8 July 2020
The Soviet literacy campaign remains the largest and most successful in world history.
ICE threatens international students with deportation unless their college resumes in-person classes
By Sam Dalton, 7 July 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, an ICE rule change is forcing international students to risk their lives to stay in the US
Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer pushes unsafe reopening of Michigan schools
By Mitch Marcus, 7 July 2020
Last week, Whitmer released dangerous and unfunded mandates on schools reopening, making it clear that she is determined to push ahead even as cases spike across the state.
Organise teachers, parents and school staff committees to oppose reckless school reopening in Melbourne!
By the Committee for Public Education (Australia), 7 July 2020
The CFPE calls for the formation of safety action committees to demand the suspension of the school system as part of a comprehensive public health and safety plan to protect the working class.
City University of New York lays off 2,800 adjuncts in wave of austerity
By Elliott Murtagh, 4 July 2020
These actions will have a devastating effect on the largest urban university system in the US, forcing faculty, students, and staff to bear the brunt of the current pandemic-triggered state and city financial crisis.
“Deep cleaning” in Australian schools: Image and reality
By Carolyn Kennett, 4 July 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, governments promised thoroughly cleaned classrooms, but school cleaners have neither the resources nor hours to conduct the necessary cleaning.
UK government’s guidance on school reopening: Back to “normal” from September
By Tania Kent, 3 July 2020
There will be no social distancing, no personal protection for children or staff and no school closures if children or staff record positively for COVID-19.
Broader reopening of UK schools leads to spread of COVID-19 infections
By Tania Kent and Tim Pearce, 30 June 2020
Recent outbreaks in schools almost doubled to 44 in one week—16 more than were recorded at hospitals
World Bank pushes privatized distance learning in Brazil
By Eduardo Parati, 29 June 2020
The São Paulo secretary of education’s declared intention of “facilitating teachers’ work” is actually aimed at furthering a shift to distance learning.
University of Michigan Flint cuts 41 percent of lecturers
By Sheila Brehm and Sam Wayne, 29 June 2020
“I think higher education is over for the working class,” sociology lecturer Laura MacIntyre told the WSWS.
Against public opposition, Michigan Democrats and Republicans push for unsafe reopening of schools
By Mitch Marcus, 27 June 2020
Both Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-controlled legislature have fully committed to the reopening of in-person schooling, in line with the demands of automakers and other big businesses.
All schools in England to open in September
By Tom Pearce, 24 June 2020
The government’s decision to return to the full opening of schools has been taken without any systematic review of the impact of the wider reopening of the economy.
UK students in precarious situation during the pandemic
By Ioan Petrescu, 23 June 2020
An online petition demanding the reimbursement of all this year’s fee due to the pandemic has gathered 345,731 signatures as of the time of writing. Another one, that only asks for refunds for the third semester, has 109,282 signatures.
Oppose all public education budget cuts, layoffs and the unsafe reopening of schools! For a socialist program to fully fund and vastly expand public education!
By Joseph Kishore--Socialist Equality Party candidate for president, 23 June 2020
As the Socialist Equality Party’s candidate for president in the 2020 US elections, I condemn the widespread attacks on public education implemented by Democrats and Republicans.
US school districts posture as opponents of militarized schools
By Alexander Fangmann, 22 June 2020
The measures to remove police from schools are intended to deflect the anger of students and youth, and will in no way reduce the repressive presence of the state in schools.
University of Chicago grad students disaffiliate from the American Federation of Teachers
By Andy Thompson, 22 June 2020
This case is only the latest in a series of bitter experiences grad students all across the country have had with AFT and other trade unions.
Australian government steps up attack on university students and workers
By Mike Head, 22 June 2020
Assisted by the role of the unions, the government is seeking to further transform universities into vocational businesses, churning out “job-ready graduates.”
Australian university lecturers voice concerns about their conditions and the role of the NTEU
By our correspondent, 22 June 2020
“I was just stunned that the union did not even ask us if we wanted to negotiate a deal.”
“How can dissent be illegal when that is how the country was started?”
Oklahoma teachers oppose Trump and his Tulsa rally
By Phyllis Steele, 20 June 2020
Educators in Oklahoma, who waged a wildcat strike in 2018, are still ranked near the bottom in the US in pay and per pupil funding.
Australian pseudo-left groups protect university union from revolt against pay-cutting plans
By a correspondent, 18 June 2020
University workers, in partnership with students, need to construct new rank-and-file organisations that are totally independent of the NTEU apparatus.
Massachusetts educators protest layoffs and sweeping cuts to public education
By Will McCalliss and Evan Blake, 17 June 2020
On Monday, educators from across Massachusetts held a rally to protest the devastating budget cuts and job losses, which are hitting over 50 school districts across the state.
Thousands of educators laid off across California as state Democrats plan austerity budget
By Renae Cassimeda, 16 June 2020
Amid massive cuts to public education looming in the coming months, many of California’s K-12 public school districts facing prior budget shortfalls have already laid off educators for the coming school year.
Germany: Schools and child daycare centres open despite the high risk of infection
By Marianne Arens, 16 June 2020
The same politicians who pump hundreds of billions of euros of so-called “Corona aid” into the vaults of the big banks and leading companies see no need to equip schools with the measures needed to combat the coronavirus.
Parents speak out against rushed re-opening of schools in Australia
By Sue Phillips and Kaye Tucker, 16 June 2020
The complicity of the education trade unions has left parents to express their concerns through social media, establishing Facebook pages and petitions.
Over 1.4 million US education jobs slashed in April and May
By Evan Blake, 15 June 2020
The massive education-related job losses will in many cases be permanent, with devastating repercussions for both educators and an entire generation of students.
Facing anger over budget cuts and early reopening, Detroit school officials promote racial politics
By Mitch Marcus and Phyllis Steele, 15 June 2020
The Detroit Public Schools Community District called a march and rally for “Equality and Justice for All” on June 11 that attracted 2,000 teachers, parents and students.
Detroit literacy case ends with no legal precedent for the right to an education
By J. Cooper, 15 June 2020
The US Sixth District Court of Appeals allowed the settlement of the “right to read” case in Detroit to stand while vacating the legal precedent.
191 Chicago grad students break with AFT
15 June 2020
Reject Australian universities-NTEU job and pay cuts!
By the Committee for Public Education and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, 15 June 2020
Despite intense opposition to the cuts among university workers, the trade unions are collaborating with the university managements to push through ballots to impose them.
Teacher arrested during protests speaks on social conditions in New York City
By Tim Avery, 13 June 2020
A video interview of Brigette Brantley at a demonstration against police violence recently went viral on social media, accumulating over seven million views on Twitter.
999 California K-12 education budget cuts roundup
12 June 2020
999 Detroit teachers
12 June 2020
Massachusetts teacher denounces cuts to Randolph and Brookline schools
By Nancy Hanover, 11 June 2020
A high school teacher in a nearby Massachusetts school district reached out to the World Socialist Web Site to voice his support for the struggle in defense of public education in Randolph and Brookline.
UK: Setback for Johnson’s school reopening plan due to popular opposition
By Tania Kent, 10 June 2020
The temporary retreat is a credit to the millions of parents and educators who opposed the government and acted in defiance of the trade unions.
The fate of international students in the US in the era of COVID-19
By Sam Dalton, 10 June 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic deepens the crisis of American society, US colleges and international students face a precarious future.
35,000 sign petition to provide full funding to Randolph schools in Massachusetts
By Evan Blake and Will McCalliss, 9 June 2020
Randolph Public School District, in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts region, has laid off all of their arts, music, and PE teachers, resulting in a mass outcry.
Quebec unions and government conspire behind the backs of health and education workers
By Laurent Lafrance and Richard Dufour, 8 June 2020
Quebec’s public sector unions fully accept the austerity financial framework dictated by the right-wing CAQ government and are stepping up their efforts to impose another sellout contract.
US colleges and universities continue jobs bloodbath as they press to open in the fall
By Alexander Fangmann, 6 June 2020
Colleges and universities are responding to severe budget shortfalls with mass layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts.
UK: Prime Minister’s Questions reveals Labour’s complicity in Tory back-to-school campaign
By Thomas Scripps, 6 June 2020
Every capitalist party in the world is working on behalf of the corporations to impose a reckless return to “the new normal.”
Opposition builds to re-opening of UK schools
By Tania Kent, 5 June 2020
In response to a Zoom webinar held by the National Education Union on Wednesday—two days after the re-opening of schools—many educators on Facebook expressed hostility to the inaction of the union.
US colleges prepare full opening of campuses in the name of football
By Andy Thompson, 5 June 2020
Over the past several decades college sports has become a multibillion-dollar industry and has made athletics the center of revenue and funding plans in most major US universities.
NTEU helps Australian universities escalate job and wage cuts
By Mike Head, 5 June 2020
University managements are exploiting the union’s stifling of university workers’ outrage and opposition.
An interview with a university mental health professional
Anxiety, depression, loneliness grip millions of youth during pandemic
By Renae Cassimeda, 3 June 2020
The WSWS spoke with a university psychotherapist on the psychological impact of the pandemic on college students.
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