To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that remains the question. It’s also a question that’ll receive conflicting answers depending on who you ask. In the neighborhood of 500 employees of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) answered the question with a resounding “no way,” and they just got handed pink slips along with their final paychecks.
Their beef is legitimate and it’s not only due to their constitutional and God-given rights being stomped on. The mandate they refuse to comply with also applies to students, and as of the latest count, some 34,000 students in the district haven’t complied either, yet they’re still allowed in the classrooms. For now.
Interim Superintendent Megan Reilly issued a statement saying, “Parting ways with individuals who choose not to be vaccinated is an extremely difficult, but necessary decision to ensure the safety of all in our school communities. We wish everyone the best in their future endeavors and encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”
Here’s where things get sticky. The vaccination mandate was issued by the school district. They’re only one of several larger districts that have made up their own rules. California State Gov. Gavin Newsome issued a similar mandate in October, but it won’t be enforced until July after the current school year has ended. It’ll only apply once the next school year begins.
Even so, Gavin has yet to announce an actual date so everything is still subject to change. Not taking a more concrete stance has caused school districts to run amuck and create their own unofficial guidelines so much of the blame falls in his lap for being so wishy-washy.
Most other school districts within the state have opted for weekly testing of unvaccinated students and staff and have received little to no resistance from anyone, pro or against. They’re being much more respectful of one another’s rights.
With the 500 or so employees out of the way, LAUSD is turning its attention to the students. If they aren’t fully vaccinated or exempt, they don’t deserve an in-school education. They’ll need to enroll in independent study programs and their names will be stricken from the Los Angeles public school system. What comes next? Internment camps?
According to the L.A. Times, doing this will create a major traffic jam in independent programs due largely in part to staffing shortages, leaving the bulk of these children ages 12 and over unable to receive an education of any type. You can’t simply dump 34,000 students in the private education sector and expect it to work like a charm.
Some of the children who will be denied an education include those who are homeless or living in foster care. Others include kids with military parents who relocate a lot. Public schools share certain educational standards so the student is up to date wherever the family ends up. Private schools…not so much. They tend to teach their own specialized curriculum which generally caters to the demands of their more often than not wealthier clientele.
Another question that remains to be answered is whether or not the LAUSD has the legal authority to do any of what they’re pushing through with. They aren’t elected lawmakers. Just like the private school sector, and given that this is L.A. we’re talking about, the county school board members are trying to please the county’s majority population of liberals who call the shots without regard for anyone or anything but their own personal desires.
Legal challenges are coming down the pike, but need we repeat, this is L.A. county where anyone who’s anyone has an attorney or two in their hip pocket. This looks more like a job for feds to handle if either side is going to get a fair shake. Will this happen? We don’t know yet but you’ll be the first to find out the moment we do.
