News

#Where NYC mayoral hopefuls stand on vaccines in schools, remote learning

#Where NYC mayoral hopefuls stand on vaccines in schools, remote learning

All eight of the Democratic candidates running for mayor said they oppose requiring that teachers get the coronavirus vaccine before the upcoming school year.

But during the first mayoral debate Wednesday night, five of the candidates said they would require that students get vaccinated.

The candidates were hit with other hot-button schools system issues.

Only two candidates — Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and former city Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia — said they would preserve the requirement that students take the Specialized High School Admissions Test as the criteria for entry into the city’s top high schools.

And only two candidates — Adams and city Comptroller Scott Stringer — said they would offer full-time remote instruction as an option in the fall.

“I’m a failed remote-learning teacher,” Stringer joked.

Mayor Bill de Blasio hasn’t said yet if the Department of Education would offer remote instruction as a choice for students in September.

During a lightning round, WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer asked the candidates to raise their hands to indicate whether they would require that students get the COVID vaccine.

Five of the candidates said they would: Garcia, Stringer, entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, former federal and city housing chief Shaun Donovan and not-for-profit executive Dianne Morales.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams insisted on still requiring the Specialized High School Admissions Test for students applying to elite schools.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams insisted on still requiring the Specialized High School Admissions Test for students applying to elite schools.
NY1

Three others were opposed: Adams, former City Hall legal counsel Maya Wiley, and former Citigroup executive Ray McGuire.

But none of the eight candidates raised their hands when asked whether teachers and other school staff should be required to get inoculated for COVID-19, perhaps to avoid offending the powerful United Federation of Teachers and other unions representing school workers.

The city’s largest charter school network, Success Academy, is requiring its staff get vaccinated to keep COVID at bay.

De Blasio on Tuesday said the city Department of Education will not require city kids to get vaccinated before the upcoming school year.

“We look forward to welcoming back every single student,” de Blasio said. “I think you’ll see a lot of students and a lot of staff vaccinated by then. But I think that’s the right way to go about it.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio hasn’t confirmed if remote instruction will be offered in the fall.
Mayor Bill de Blasio hasn’t confirmed if remote instruction will be offered in the fall.
James Keivom

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week said CUNY and SUNY students would have to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before enrolling at campus in the fall. But the mandate will not extend to faculty.

The Post reported that a majority of staffers have refused to get vaccinated at droves of city nursing homes that care for vulnerable, elderly residents. The state does not require the staffers to get vaccinated.

The debate aired on NY1 and was co-sponsored by WNYC and The City online news outlet.

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.

For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com

If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our News category.

Source

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close

Please allow ads on our site

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker!