President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden thanked teachers for their work throughout the pandemic and promised to push for more investments in public education on Friday at the nation鈥檚 largest teachers鈥� union鈥檚 virtual convention.
The Bidens addressed thousands of delegates at the National Education Association鈥檚 annual representative assembly, which is taking place this week. Delegates have been voting on measures that will determine many of NEA鈥檚 priorities for the next year. So far, delegates have already to establish a task force that will explore the role of school police officers.
鈥淭he NEA is one of America鈥檚 indispensable organizations. I鈥檓 not just saying that because the first lady is a member,鈥� the president said. The first lady, who holds a doctorate degree in education, teaches English at a community college in Virginia.
Biden said he had a firsthand look at what teachers experienced this school year, as Jill Biden learned to teach remotely, spending hours retrofitting her lesson plans. It gave him a new appreciation of the work teachers did, he said.
鈥淵ou are professionals鈥攁ll of you,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淎ll of us have a responsibility to make sure you have what you need to educate our children safely, equitable, and well.鈥�
During Biden鈥檚 presidential campaign, he promised to make major investments in education funding, which would include teacher pay raises. Last year at the NEA鈥檚 representative assembly, he told educators he would be the most 鈥渢eacher-centric鈥� president in history and promised to raise their salaries. The NEA, along with the other national teachers鈥� union, the American Federation of Teachers, endorsed Biden over Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary, as well as supported him in the general election.
So far, Biden has proposed a $1.8 trillion American Families Plan that would provide 鈥渦niversal, high-quality鈥� preschool to all 3- and 4-year olds, pay for two years of free community college for all Americans, and invest $9 billion to train and diversify teachers through federal scholarships and pipeline programs.
Biden has also introduced a $2 trillion infrastructure package that would provide $100 billion for new school construction and upgrades to existing buildings and $45 billion to replace lead pipes around the country, which the White House estimates would reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and child-care facilities.
And Biden鈥檚 budget proposal would more than double funding for Title I, the federal grant program for educating disadvantaged students. The $20 billion in new funding could be used to raise teacher salaries and address inequities in school funding.
鈥淵our union and teachers鈥� protests across the country made it clear you deserve more than praise,鈥� Biden told NEA delegates, referencing the wave of teacher strikes, walkouts, and large-scale protests that swept the country in 2018 and 2019. 鈥淵ou deserve a raise, not just praise. Every parent in this country who spent the last year helping educate their children at home understands you deserve a raise.鈥�
Biden鈥檚 proposals, however, face resistance from Congress, which is weighing several costly spending plans from the Biden administration. GOP members have been more receptive to spending money on bridges and roads than so-called 鈥榮oft infrastructure鈥� proposals like education and child care.
Congress already passed the American Rescue Plan, which provided nearly $130 billion in COVID-19 aid to K-12 schools.
Teachers are critical to the country鈥檚 success, Biden says
Biden credited his own success to his teachers, who he said encouraged him despite his stutter.
鈥淚 think what you all underestimate鈥攂eyond the teaching of reading, writing, adding, subtracting, you give so many kids confidence,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou let them believe in themselves. ... I really don鈥檛 think you understand just how important you are.鈥�
And in Jill Biden鈥檚 speech, she praised teachers鈥� willingness to pivot and adapt their instruction as schools shut down due to the coronavirus and then work to safely reopen buildings. (Teachers鈥� unions have been criticized this past school year for pushing for a conservative approach to getting kids back into classrooms, and in some areas, blocking reopening plans.)
鈥淎merica鈥檚 students and families faced a crisis like never before. They needed champions like never before. And they found their champions in you,鈥� Jill Biden said.
Said Joe Biden: 鈥淚 think you鈥檙e the single most important component of America鈥檚 future, so don鈥檛 give up on yourselves鈥攁nd I know you won鈥檛鈥攄on鈥檛 give up on these kids.鈥�
