Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

State Senate Votes to Reopen Schools

—

by

James A. Bacon
in ,

by Kerry Dougherty

Ready for some good news out of Richmond?

Thought so.

On Tuesday, SB 1303, which will require all Virginia public schools to open for in-person as well as virtual classes, passed the Democrat-controlled Senate overwhelmingly on a BI-PARTISAN VOTE of 26-13.

Let’s hear it for politicians putting kids ahead of party!

The bill was introduced by State Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant of Henrico. She’s a Republican OB-GYN, by the way.

After what’s been described as “impassioned” debate, seven Democrats joined all of the Senate’s Republicans in voting for the measure.

No one sat this one out.

The Magnificent Seven include Senators John J. Bell of Loudoun County, Janet Howell of Fairfax, Lynwood Lewis of the Eastern Shore and parts of Tidewater, David Marsden of Fairfax, Joseph Morrissey of Richmond, Chap Petersen of Fairfax City, Scott Surovell of Fairfax and Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw of Alexandria.

Local Senators Louise Lucas, Lionel Spruill and Mamie Locke voted against reopening schools. Sigh.

Naturally, the teachers unions are apoplectic over the measure. They do not want to return to classrooms, perhaps ever. They certainly don’t want parents or Richmond telling them what to do.

Never mind that most essential workers have been leaving home daily for their jobs in hospitals, supermarkets, doctors’ offices, post offices, barbershops, restaurants, police and fire stations and courthouses and that most of the spread of COVID-19 is happening within households. Nope, militant teachers want their members to hide in their homes and remain virtual for as long as possible.

Who cares that remote learning is turning many kids into mental patients and driving down achievement?

Still, let’s temper our celebrations.

If this bill becomes law, it won’t take effect until July, which means schools can defy science and remain closed for the rest of this school year.

Pity it isn’t effective immediately.

Second, this measure has to pass Michael Bloomberg’s House of Delegates, where the lefties are slavishly devoted to organized labor. This won’t be easy.

Every single member of the House of Delegates is up for re-election this year. The only way they’ll defy the unions is if they fear a powerful backlash from voters.

This column is republished with permission from Kerry: Unemployed & Unedited.

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85 responses to “State Senate Votes to Reopen Schools”

  1. ksmith8953 Avatar
    ksmith8953

    July??

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      How cynical was this vote if July?

      1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
        Nancy_Naive

        It’s only cynical if it shuts Kerry’ maw. It’s practical if it considers the projected vaccination rate.

        I hereby dub it “cynically practical”. TFG.

        1. TooManyTaxes Avatar
          TooManyTaxes

          Both my brother and niece have been teaching either in person or in a dual mode since September. Why can New Hampshire and Minnesota do it but Virginia can’t?

          FDR had it right when he said labor unions have no place in the public sector.

          1. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            So the in-person classroom kids are looking at the same teacher teaching by video lecturing?

          2. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 10:02 am |
            So the in-person classroom kids are looking at the same teacher teaching by video lecturing?”

            Yes

          3. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 10:06 am |
            is that any better than kids watching computer screens at home?”

            Umm yes, why yes it is. If a student has a problem they can physically ask the teacher. Kids are on zooms specific hours, not the whole school day.

          4. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            How can a teacher teach both in-person and virtual at the same time?

            and: Is Kerry so desperate she calls this a “win”?

            😉

          5. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 9:47 am |
            How can a teacher teach both in-person and virtual at the same time?”

            Hybrid, the part of the class which choose in person schooling is there and the individuals who do not are at home using zoom.

          6. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            right. but is the same teacher doing both at the same time?

          7. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 9:55 am |
            right. but is the same teacher doing both at the same time?”

            Yes.

          8. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            is that any better than kids watching computer screens at home?

          9. TooManyTaxes Avatar
            TooManyTaxes

            Some of the time, they taught part of the class in-person and the other part on line, and vice versa. Sometimes, the entire class was in the room. And for certain periods, everything was virtual, based on the virus levels.

          10. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “TooManyTaxes | February 3, 2021 at 10:49 am |
            Some of the time, they taught part of the class in-person and the other part on line, and vice versa. Sometimes, the entire class was in the room. And for certain periods, everything was virtual, based on the virus levels.”

            I’m unsure why there were so many questions regarding your statement, it’s pretty straight forward.

        2. John Harvie Avatar
          John Harvie

          “It’s only cynical if it shuts Kerry’ maw.”

          Jealous, are we because her articles typically generate more responses than a lot of others???

      2. Steve Haner Avatar
        Steve Haner

        To apply before July it would need the Emergency Clause and require an 80% vote in both chambers. So July it is.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          Yep. I imagine if teachers are vaccinated by then and older folks that teachers will be ready and I’d not be surprised that they address the cored education issues like reading and math and backend some of the others until they get the kids caught up on the core stuff.

          And by this time next year the “open up the schools now” folks will be off on some other quest.

      3. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        “How can a teacher teach both in-person and virtual at the same time?”

        That might be the most ridiculous and poorly thought-out question you have ever asked on this blog.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          could be………. sorry to disappoint you! maybe I can help you?

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            I apologize. It’s just that your question struck me as particularly silly because I had just walked out of a meeting at which about 50% of the people were in a room together and 50% were joining us remotely.

          2. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Thank GAWD! I thought we might be moving to “cancel culture” for just asking questions… what a relief!

            Oh! So it “works”? what are folks so upset about “in person” then?

            Hey.. I do virtual meetings as well as “education” virtually also so I feel you pain!

          3. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            There are no shortage of issues with “virtual” but at the end of the day, virtual is going to remain an option for some kids in some situations AND it will get much better.

            The worse case for virtual is a teacher doing a video lecture.

            Hells Bells, I’d turn it off!

            Good software will engage the kid just like a cool video game will , draw them in, and motivate them to see rewards for accomplishment – just like some video games do – so well – that the kid will stay on the computer for hours unless you kick them off.

            Why do we have so little faith in this also being an education tool?

            Too much of the animus on this is coming from an opposition to pubic education in general.

            It’s the same group of opponents – they just look for additional issues from which to impugn public education.

            Even private schools will be leveraging online – and to be perfectly honest, you don’t need “online”if the computer software is resident on the computer and doing it’s thing just like a video game does.

        2. WayneS Avatar
          WayneS

          Larry,

          In my opinion, in-person is always better if it is possible. Being in the same room with the person giving the lecture/running the meeting allows for a more thorough and accurate reading of the person’s tone, gestures and body language, all of which can contribute substantially towards absorbing and understanding the lecturer’s/teacher’s message.

          When teaching children there is also the matter of discipline and attention spans. It’s a lot easier for a teacher to monitor student behavior if they are in the same room with the students.

          “Remote” can obviously be done at the same time as “live” but I think it is a distant second from a desirability standpoint.

          1. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            I think that is probably the most UN-provocative comment you have every made to me.

            Are you well?

            🙂

          2. James A. Bacon Avatar
            James A. Bacon

            A high school teacher of my acquaintance teaches online English. He says almost all of the students all turn off their video, so he can’t see what they are doing. Many don’t engage with audio. It’s as if he were lecturing to a blank TV screen. The school won’t allow him to require the video to be on. But he does spend an hour every week in video sessions (video on) in which teachers are required to discuss in agonizing detail the subtleties and nuances of vocabulary to ensure inclusiveness in school.

    2. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
      Dick Hall-Sizemore

      The state constitution sets July 1 as the effective date for any legislation passed in a regular session. If there is to be an earlier effective date (an “emergency bill”), it must be passed by a four-fifths vote (32 votes in the Senate).

    3. SuburbanWoman Avatar
      SuburbanWoman

      Well, Snyder is using “open schools now” as a part of his campaign. Why would he want to open schools now and give Democrats credit? Or does he want to wait until he possibly takes office in 2022? It is all so confusing.

  2. James Wyatt Whitehead V Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead V

    Well. Make it July 1st then. All schools have to open. No summer break. No whining from school teachers and kiddies.

    1. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      That’s a real telling roll call: Barker, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hashmi, Locke, Lucas, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Spruill being on the wrong side…many of them have the inner city school systems with the deepest challenges and most damage from where we are now.

    2. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      My SIL is teaching and has to be at the school currently and they are slated to get out till late June as it currently sits.

  3. Paul Sweet Avatar
    Paul Sweet

    I’m sure that schools, restaurants, and churches will be open and masks will no longer be necessary by November. I don’t think many Democrats want to face the voters’ wrath.

    Chesterfield County has required teachers to teach from the school instead of from home. They started having students in class for 2 days a week and at home 2 days (Wednesday was to clean & disinfect the classrooms) starting in November, but then the second spike hit. They just resumed it for elementary schools this week.

    1. djrippert Avatar
      djrippert

      “Chesterfield County has required teachers to teach from the school instead of from home.”

      That’s exactly what Fairfax County should have done all along.

      It’s a sad commentary on NoVa but commuting on a failed transportation system (compliments of the Imperial Clown Show in Richmond) is soul crushing. No wonder Fairfax County’s teachers want to keep working from home as long as possible.

  4. djrippert Avatar
    djrippert

    I’m stuck. Normally I apply the “Big Bird Doctrine” to decisions of the state legislature. Whatever Janet “Big Bird” Howell wants to do is wrong. Simple. But now we have split between Howell and Favola. Favola is also a very reliable predictor of bad ideas. If she likes something – run away.

    In this case Howell votes to open while Favola opposes. Time to go to the second level.

    Petersen is usually right. He voted to open.

    But Saslaw is almost always wrong. He also voted to open. Maybe Dominion somehow benefits from reopening the schools.

    What’s a poor voter to do?

    In trying times like these it’s best to go back to “first principles”. The General Assembly is always a day late and a dollar short. They are a near perfect contra-indicator of what to do.

    Now that the Senate has voted to reopen the schools a new COVID-19 variant which disproportionately impacts school age children is likely on the horizon.

    Keep the schools closed.

  5. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    When does this come up in the HOD and Kirk Cox can vote for it?

  6. ksmith8953 Avatar
    ksmith8953

    July??

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      How cynical was this vote if July?

      1. Nancy_Naive Avatar
        Nancy_Naive

        It’s only cynical if it shuts Kerry’ maw. It’s practical if it considers the projected vaccination rate.

        I hereby dub it “cynically practical”. TFG.

        1. TooManyTaxes Avatar
          TooManyTaxes

          Both my brother and niece have been teaching either in person or in a dual mode since September. Why can New Hampshire and Minnesota do it but Virginia can’t?

          FDR had it right when he said labor unions have no place in the public sector.

          1. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            How can a teacher teach both in-person and virtual at the same time?

            and: Is Kerry so desperate she calls this a “win”?

            😉

          2. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 9:47 am |
            How can a teacher teach both in-person and virtual at the same time?”

            Hybrid, the part of the class which choose in person schooling is there and the individuals who do not are at home using zoom.

          3. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            right. but is the same teacher doing both at the same time?

          4. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 9:55 am |
            right. but is the same teacher doing both at the same time?”

            Yes.

          5. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            So the in-person classroom kids are looking at the same teacher teaching by video lecturing?

          6. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 10:02 am |
            So the in-person classroom kids are looking at the same teacher teaching by video lecturing?”

            Yes

          7. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            is that any better than kids watching computer screens at home?

          8. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “LarrytheG | February 3, 2021 at 10:06 am |
            is that any better than kids watching computer screens at home?”

            Umm yes, why yes it is. If a student has a problem they can physically ask the teacher. Kids are on zooms specific hours, not the whole school day.

          9. TooManyTaxes Avatar
            TooManyTaxes

            Some of the time, they taught part of the class in-person and the other part on line, and vice versa. Sometimes, the entire class was in the room. And for certain periods, everything was virtual, based on the virus levels.

          10. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            “TooManyTaxes | February 3, 2021 at 10:49 am |
            Some of the time, they taught part of the class in-person and the other part on line, and vice versa. Sometimes, the entire class was in the room. And for certain periods, everything was virtual, based on the virus levels.”

            I’m unsure why there were so many questions regarding your statement, it’s pretty straight forward.

        2. John Harvie Avatar
          John Harvie

          “It’s only cynical if it shuts Kerry’ maw.”

          Jealous, are we because her articles typically generate more responses than a lot of others???

      2. Steve Haner Avatar
        Steve Haner

        To apply before July it would need the Emergency Clause and require an 80% vote in both chambers. So July it is.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          Yep. I imagine if teachers are vaccinated by then and older folks that teachers will be ready and I’d not be surprised that they address the cored education issues like reading and math and backend some of the others until they get the kids caught up on the core stuff.

          And by this time next year the “open up the schools now” folks will be off on some other quest.

      3. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        “How can a teacher teach both in-person and virtual at the same time?”

        That might be the most ridiculous and poorly thought-out question you have ever asked on this blog.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          could be………. sorry to disappoint you! maybe I can help you?

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            I apologize. It’s just that your question struck me as particularly silly because I had just walked out of a meeting at which about 50% of the people were in a room together and 50% were joining us remotely.

          2. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Thank GAWD! I thought we might be moving to “cancel culture” for just asking questions… what a relief!

            Oh! So it “works”? what are folks so upset about “in person” then?

            Hey.. I do virtual meetings as well as “education” virtually also so I feel you pain!

          3. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            There are no shortage of issues with “virtual” but at the end of the day, virtual is going to remain an option for some kids in some situations AND it will get much better.

            The worse case for virtual is a teacher doing a video lecture.

            Hells Bells, I’d turn it off!

            Good software will engage the kid just like a cool video game will , draw them in, and motivate them to see rewards for accomplishment – just like some video games do – so well – that the kid will stay on the computer for hours unless you kick them off.

            Why do we have so little faith in this also being an education tool?

            Too much of the animus on this is coming from an opposition to pubic education in general.

            It’s the same group of opponents – they just look for additional issues from which to impugn public education.

            Even private schools will be leveraging online – and to be perfectly honest, you don’t need “online”if the computer software is resident on the computer and doing it’s thing just like a video game does.

        2. WayneS Avatar
          WayneS

          Larry,

          In my opinion, in-person is always better if it is possible. Being in the same room with the person giving the lecture/running the meeting allows for a more thorough and accurate reading of the person’s tone, gestures and body language, all of which can contribute substantially towards absorbing and understanding the lecturer’s/teacher’s message.

          When teaching children there is also the matter of discipline and attention spans. It’s a lot easier for a teacher to monitor student behavior if they are in the same room with the students.

          “Remote” can obviously be done at the same time as “live” but I think it is a distant second from a desirability standpoint.

          1. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            I think that is probably the most UN-provocative comment you have every made to me.

            Are you well?

            🙂

          2. James A. Bacon Avatar
            James A. Bacon

            A high school teacher of my acquaintance teaches online English. He says almost all of the students all turn off their video, so he can’t see what they are doing. Many don’t engage with audio. It’s as if he were lecturing to a blank TV screen. The school won’t allow him to require the video to be on. But he does spend an hour every week in video sessions (video on) in which teachers are required to discuss in agonizing detail the subtleties and nuances of vocabulary to ensure inclusiveness in school.

    2. SuburbanWoman Avatar
      SuburbanWoman

      Well, Snyder is using “open schools now” as a part of his campaign. Why would he want to open schools now and give Democrats credit? Or does he want to wait until he possibly takes office in 2022? It is all so confusing.

  7. Publius Avatar
    Publius

    In other words, there are 7 Dem Senators who live in competitive districts.
    Has Hanover County killed all the rest of VA yet?

  8. James Wyatt Whitehead V Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead V

    Well. Make it July 1st then. All schools have to open. No summer break. No whining from school teachers and kiddies.

    1. Steve Haner Avatar
      Steve Haner

      That’s a real telling roll call: Barker, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hashmi, Locke, Lucas, Mason, McClellan, McPike, Spruill being on the wrong side…many of them have the inner city school systems with the deepest challenges and most damage from where we are now.

    2. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      My SIL is teaching and has to be at the school currently and they are slated to get out till late June as it currently sits.

  9. Paul Sweet Avatar
    Paul Sweet

    I’m sure that schools, restaurants, and churches will be open and masks will no longer be necessary by November. I don’t think many Democrats want to face the voters’ wrath.

    Chesterfield County has required teachers to teach from the school instead of from home. They started having students in class for 2 days a week and at home 2 days (Wednesday was to clean & disinfect the classrooms) starting in November, but then the second spike hit. They just resumed it for elementary schools this week.

    1. djrippert Avatar
      djrippert

      “Chesterfield County has required teachers to teach from the school instead of from home.”

      That’s exactly what Fairfax County should have done all along.

      It’s a sad commentary on NoVa but commuting on a failed transportation system (compliments of the Imperial Clown Show in Richmond) is soul crushing. No wonder Fairfax County’s teachers want to keep working from home as long as possible.

  10. jyl1st Avatar
    jyl1st

    Well, after stating I skip all the articles on BR written by this author, I read this one because of the subject and my interest in it, after again tutoring my 17 year old nephew today who attends HS in FFX county, as we have been doing via Skype since last March.

    He has gotten much better grades since going virtual. We are very happy this occurred for that reason alone. I was happy that this will not take effect until July, after he finishes, glad to know how my state Senator voted on this (Saslaw) as well.

    This is a win for my situation and we shall see how this shakes out across the state with the teacher’s union and each individual school system.

  11. djrippert Avatar
    djrippert

    I’m stuck. Normally I apply the “Big Bird Doctrine” to decisions of the state legislature. Whatever Janet “Big Bird” Howell wants to do is wrong. Simple. But now we have split between Howell and Favola. Favola is also a very reliable predictor of bad ideas. If she likes something – run away.

    In this case Howell votes to open while Favola opposes. Time to go to the second level.

    Petersen is usually right. He voted to open.

    But Saslaw is almost always wrong. He also voted to open. Maybe Dominion somehow benefits from reopening the schools.

    What’s a poor voter to do?

    In trying times like these it’s best to go back to “first principles”. The General Assembly is always a day late and a dollar short. They are a near perfect contra-indicator of what to do.

    Now that the Senate has voted to reopen the schools a new COVID-19 variant which disproportionately impacts school age children is likely on the horizon.

    Keep the schools closed.

  12. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    When does this come up in the HOD and Kirk Cox can vote for it?

  13. Publius Avatar
    Publius

    In other words, there are 7 Dem Senators who live in competitive districts.
    Has Hanover County killed all the rest of VA yet?

  14. djrippert Avatar
    djrippert

    But, but, but …. “the science” howled the liberals. Orangeman Bad doesn’t respect “the science”.

    CDC says schools can safely reopen before teachers are vaccinated.

    And that would be the CDC under the Biden Administration

    https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/02/03/cdc-schools-can-reopen-without-teacher-shots/

    Has Biden replaced the scientists in the CDC with accountants, gardeners and anthropologists? Or does the CDC have scientists?

    The next time a liberal claims to be “science-based” … just laugh at them.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      ……..with proper safety precautions, right?

      what’s the link to the CDC safety recommendations?

      BTY – is this what Md is doing also?

      1. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

        Updated Feb. 1, 2021.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          Yep. So the schools need to do these things before the teachers return?

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            I don’t know, do they?

            To me they look like recommendations rather than requirements.

  15. djrippert Avatar
    djrippert

    But, but, but …. “the science” howled the liberals. Orangeman Bad doesn’t respect “the science”.

    CDC says schools can safely reopen before teachers are vaccinated.

    And that would be the CDC under the Biden Administration

    https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/02/03/cdc-schools-can-reopen-without-teacher-shots/

    Has Biden replaced the scientists in the CDC with accountants, gardeners and anthropologists? Or does the CDC have scientists?

    The next time a liberal claims to be “science-based” … just laugh at them.

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      ……..with proper safety precautions, right?

      what’s the link to the CDC safety recommendations?

      BTY – is this what Md is doing also?

      1. WayneS Avatar
        WayneS

        https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

        Updated Feb. 1, 2021.

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          Yep. So the schools need to do these things before the teachers return?

          1. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            I don’t know, do they?

            To me they look like recommendations rather than requirements.

  16. Baconator with extra cheese Avatar
    Baconator with extra cheese

    Maybe all the old white female teachers who are responsible for the abhorrent systemic racism in our public schools will be no more and BIPOC teachers can be hired to turn it all around in RVA.
    Me thinks that may be the plan…. tricky State Senators!

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      that’s what they are but they ARE based on “Science” and that’s what we’re hearing – that the “science” says we should re-open them.

      Well, what does that science say and if it is a recommendation does it mean it’s not science?

  17. Baconator with extra cheese Avatar
    Baconator with extra cheese

    Maybe all the old white female teachers who are responsible for the abhorrent systemic racism in our public schools will be no more and BIPOC teachers can be hired to turn it all around in RVA.
    Me thinks that may be the plan…. tricky State Senators!

    1. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      that’s what they are but they ARE based on “Science” and that’s what we’re hearing – that the “science” says we should re-open them.

      Well, what does that science say and if it is a recommendation does it mean it’s not science?

  18. jyl1st Avatar
    jyl1st

    Well, after stating I skip all the articles on BR written by this author, I read this one because of the subject and my interest in it, after again tutoring my 17 year old nephew today who attends HS in FFX county, as we have been doing via Skype since last March.

    He has gotten much better grades since going virtual. We are very happy this occurred for that reason alone. I was happy that this will not take effect until July, after he finishes, glad to know how my state Senator voted on this (Saslaw) as well.

    This is a win for my situation and we shall see how this shakes out across the state with the teacher’s union and each individual school system.

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