No excuses for school closures

Re “Vaccines to teach — in school,” editorial, Jan. 26

Public-sector unions are the most powerful political force in California, and the California Teachers Assn. knows it can keep many of its members home at full pay behind a smokescreen about the safety of in-person instruction.

Meanwhile, schools and youth sports elsewhere are going on just fine in person.

The cost is not only the well-documented harm to kids, particularly lowerincome and minority kids, but also to the credibility of the state’s COVID-19 policies. When the public can tell that the rules are about politics and special interests rather than science and safety, it’s no wonder that people ignore them.

If Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to start rebuilding his credibility, getting in-person instruction started as soon as possible would be the best first step.

CHRIS SEIBER Newport Beach

Thank you for your editorial advocating vaccine priority for teachers who go back to the classroom.

Our almighty teachers unions are once again putting the kibosh on returning to on-campus instruction. Now that vaccinating teachers is imminent, they have once again moved the goal post for returning to the classroom.

What would happen if doctors, nurses and first responders refused to go to work because “it was too risky”?

CAROL GRAHAM Northridge

Why aren’t public schools being used as primary vaccination centers?

Most of them have nurses, and some have clinics. Campuses are being underutilized because of remote learning, and most are within walking distance of residents.

Teachers could be vaccinated at their local school site, and that could expedite the reopening of in-person learning. It makes sense to use the infrastructure we already have to speed up this process. June Thompson

Los Angeles