In an effort to encourage schools to reopen for in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration has formally designated teachers essential workers. In an interview with Fox Business's Maria Bartiromo, Pence explained that there is "no mandate" in the decision. President Trump has been adamant that schools should reopen for in-person instruction in the fall, warning of "greater mortality" should they permanently shutter. While a return to some sort of normalcy would be fantastic news for teachers and students alike, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten wasn't pleased with the Trump administration's decision-making process. Teachers, who have been public with their concerns about the potentially devastating social and emotional losses to children if schools don't reopen, remain between a rock and a hard place.

Source: Fox News August 21, 2020 20:03 UTC