It’s time to get teachers back in classrooms

Science says it’s safe to reopen schools, and experts agree keeping them closed is harming our kids. So why are schools in San Diego still closed? Because teachers are disincentivized to get back into the classroom. Teachers have their same salaries, but don’t have to deal with the inconveniences of in-person education (driving to work, addressing disciplinary problems, cleaning classrooms, etc.).

Recently, Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago demonstrated that the way to get schools open is to stop paying teachers to work from home, reversing their incentives to stay out of the classroom. Although the teachers unions will protest, they really have no leverage since going on strike will hardly upend the already upended lives of kids and parents in San Diego. As Mayor Lightfoot showed, a competent leader can take on the unions and get schools opened up. I wish the leadership in San Diego would pay attention. Amato Evan North Park