Prodding states to move forward with plans to re-open shuttered businesses, President Donald Trump on Monday said he believed states would move to bring kids back to schools - even if just for a few weeks in this school year - as part of an effort to get the country to loosen restrictions from the Coronavirus.
"I think you will see a lot of schools open up, even if it is for a very short period of time," the President told reporters in the White House Rose Garden, as he said the Coronavirus tends not to target those of school age.
“Young people seem to do very well,” Mr. Trump said, as made the case for opening up schools around the nation.
"I know that there are some Governors that are not necessarily ready to open up their states, but they may be ready to open up their schools," Mr. Trump said.
"I think it would be a good thing," the President added.
Some states have already either canceled school for the rest of the year, or moved to online learning only.
Many others though, could still face a return to school, if conditions are deemed okay by state and local authorities.
"But the question should not be whether we open schools, but how we do it safely," said Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers.
"COVID-19 is a terrible virus that has already taken too many lives, and, in the absence of a vaccine, there is no magic wand or magic elixir as the President would have us believe," Weingarten said.
But in a statement, Weingarten did not rule out the possibility of kids going back to school, though her teacher's union would still like more resources for Coronavirus testing.
Even in GOP-led states which are more receptive to the President's plans - like Texas - school remains a question mark.
“Not a long to way to go in the school system right now for this season, for this year,” the President said Monday, “but I think you'll see a lot of schools open up.”
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