President ial nominee joe biden spoke with teachers and education officials about reopening schools in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Plan totalked about his boost federal support for Public Schools. Hosted by the National Education association, this is about 40 minutes. [applause] joe biden thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. Im jill bidens husband, joe biden. And lily thanks for bringing us together and for the energy and leadership you brought to this indispensable organization. You know, you all head up a union, an organization that is holds the future of the country in know, you all head up a union, an organization that is holds the future of the country in your hands. And what determines to our children determines what happens to this nation. Theyre our children. They lift our National Ambition aa lot of. And you have them in your hands. And your members are lucky to have you. And im absolutely certain of that because i happen to be as i said neither one of you members. Jill and i are truly honored to have your support and i mean that from the bottom of my heart. Replace betsy devos and the opportunity to trust to make a whole lot of progress together because im confident im absolutely confident we can win. This is going to be a teacher oriented department of education. And its not going to come from the top down. Its going to come are the teachers up. I know there are a number of issues. But the immediate challenge is the continual spread of the coronavirus and what it means for the Upcoming School year. Look, we saw this challenge coming. Ive been calling for the president since late january. Donald trump failed to take any action on testing, contact tracing, creating responsible standards, everything we need to do to get this under control and to get educators and students back in the classroom. And you understood what was needed. Frankly, weve always understood. Back in 2009 when i was overseaing the implementation of the recovery act in the face of the worst financial crisis in American History, with knew we we knew we had to stand up for educators. It was almost an 84 billion program that had to get throughout within the matter of 16 probably 18 months. Fraud, less than. 2 of 1 . Heres what it did. To llocated 60 billion local school districts. 400,000 education jobs. We knew it had to be done in the face of the crisis. And the federal government understood that every state has requires to balance their budget. Localities have to balance the budget. Theres a reason why the federal government cant deal with crisis like this. And this time around trump tried to provide support failed tried to support educators. Trump failed to do it. Trump and local government and the state and local government were facing huge short false. Speaker pelosi, a real leader in the house of representatives did their job. They got something done called the heroes act 950 billion for state and local governments. Trump refused to do the job. This is about people. So im making sure educators salary dont get cut and educators dont get fired. We could have kept every educator employed. But instead we lost 900,000 education jobs due to budget cuts. This is absolutely unacceptable. Were already short the number of teachers we need nationally before this crisis. Last month, i put out a plan to reopen safely and sustainably including for our Public Schools. I require steps like one insuring the schools have funding for physical like plexiglas to maximize social distancing, all the things that scientists tell us we need to do. And we need the federal government to give local governments clear guidance. Finallyer we need to prevent further exacerbating inequities system. Ducation with broadband and other technologies so they can participate in learning. You know, theres probably a higher probability that well need to continue to rely on Remote Learning and parts of the country for a while longer. And we see, and all of you know that the students access to technology can cost kids up to a year of learning we need to get this done now. Weve been arguing for a while its only just a part because once we get ahead of this pandemic, were going to have an unprecedented opportunity to make progress. You need to make sure that you and your students get treated with dignity that you deserve. My Education Plan is tripling the funding, one of the first things that just districts are senior to do is insure Higher Learning education money. Higher salaries for educators. That money would eliminate the 23 billion annual gap between majority white and nonwhite districts. Its one of the single best instruments and investments that we can address to address systemic inequality. In addition to getting the raise that you deserve, were going to get you the resources that you need. Were going to double the numbers with social workers in school. Mental health is an enormous issue. And the need is only getting exacerbated by this pandemic on both educators as well as students. Theres a whole lot more in my plan. re going to fix universal yearolds. Ll 3 the bottom line here is when we win this election, were going to get the support you need and the respect you deserve. You dont just have a partner in the white house. Youll have another member in the white house. If i dont listen im going to get a report in the lincoln bedroom were absolutely totally committed to make so much more progress. Theres so much to talk about. I know you have questions. I wish i could talk longer about how passionate i feel about some of these things. Up and r would say hush ill be happy to take some of your questions. Well, we really appreciate you being here. Its an honor to have you here Vice President biden youre the best. Arent i, though . You really are. Yes, thank you so much. Yeah, i know. I know. I wasnt arguing with you. So here [laughter] here is you know that you have received our support in the primary that is almost over. And that part of our process now is for you to make your case to the 8,000 almost 8,000 delegates that are watching you right now. And one of the things that you asked is to listen to some of the questions from our members who asked them, i really appreciate you wanting that. I could is it here and i could read them to you. But we took you up on that. We found some delegates who had asked some of the most frequently asked questions that came to us. We said go up. What do you want to hear from joe biden . And so were going to do that because we had 88 members throughout the country who had the opportunity to submit those questions online. And of the thousands, these are the delegates that were selected. So lets go now to turquoise parker in durham, north carolina. Turquoise is a k5 media specialist. Turquoise, you may now ask your question to Vice President biden turquoise. Hello, president lily and Vice President biden my name is turquoise legume parker. Im a media coordinator. But selfgiven title is racial and social justice teacher. This upcoming year will be my 10th year teaching. We should have had the folks bre ona taylor killed to be charged years ago. But you are curriculum affirms and further the aforementioned. I call my students not students because i believe in their intelligence and their strengthed a their beauty. And i need them to believe in themselves because our world does not make them feel that way. Abolitionist is teaching my duty. Its my duty to structure a curriculum that help thruse all kinds of issues such as police brutality, how to fight it. And how they can come to terms with the possibility that they might be the next victim of White Supremacy at absolutely no fault of their own. Teaching in the resistance is incredibly hard work but we have to do it because we need our kids to know that they are absolutely a part of this movement to smash White Supremacy. So Vice President biden, heres my question for you. You talk a lot about fighting if the soul of this nation. But how will you work with others to change this system that has benefited corrupt souls from day one . Vice President Biden ive been doing this my whole career thats how i got involved. This has to be a wakeup call for the country. Take action. You know, its past time to do that. Inequities, onomic our nation can do that with so many people. It starts off as you do because i spend a lot of time working with young people. But never taught young people. And you know, the first thing is to treat them with respect, treat them with dignity. Tell them about keep holding their head up high. Not only then, but reminding them that they can do anything at all, anything at all except for im going to fight every day for the changes that ive referenced. But im also going to listen. I laid out the initial process so they can lead to take on Real Police Reform for all cops to higher standards. So many know now. You know, one of the things you heard and those Young Students you may have in that circumstance, they find out they have a mom or dad treated unfairly or maybe even fairly but incarcerated. And when they get out of school, what happens when they get out of prison . What happens . Theyre treated as if theyre still in prison. Not like it is punishment. No one should go to jail for drugs. For the abuse of go rehab yourself. Rehabilitating them. We need to do than just reform the police department. We need to address the inequities. After taking care of education, our economy and our healthcare. Im going to fight the deadly healthcare issues including covid19 by expanding the care. So they dont see your parents family and cant go for a test because we cant afford it. Well, im really feeling suck, but im afraid if i go its going to for fastest universal scare expand obamacare and a detailed way to do it. Im going to double the funding for health centers. On the vital front lines. Making all testing and treatment vaccine for anyone and the ight to give every child i really want to know this because in all the universities have come up with so many starting new websites. Youve got 40 of a childs brain is developed by time theyre 3. Providing universal prek increases 58 the chance of them doing well all the way through school. Tripling title one funding to close that gap between the rich and the poor. Making Public Comments free for ery family earning less than 125,000 a year. Propose we get 75 billion through hbc because they dont ave the kind of funding to compete the government contracts. We will provide stimulus money to Small Businesses. You all know better than i do. But i know pretty darn well that a Community Community particularly poor community, in that community they have the local hardware store, the local drugstore, the local supermarket. But whats happening now is under this unfair recovery that trump is running, theyre not doing what they what they want them to do. Provide Small Business money for those with fewer businesses. So they can stay open. Theyre not getting the lones. They should be getting it. In this small Inclusive Community and that it generates selfawareness, generates community. You know, and these are big things. But if everybody was saying its time for big change now, we have to make this at least an action to reverse systemic racism with long overdue concrete change. But we can do it. Ause one thing, we reached and that is that, you know, ere are inflection points in American History where something happens and big changes occur. Whats happening now in this covid virus and so many people affected by it. So many people unnecessarily died because of it because all of a sudden people are realizing, oh, my god, who has been carrying us on our back . Essential workers. Workers. He essential overwhelmingly black, latino. 5, 6,eyre getting paid 7 an hour. Theyre the ones that were not able to stay home. Theyve been carrying us on their back. I think the public is ready. Its like theyve had their blinders taken off. But oh, my god, this really happened . Its really this way . And i think ive met ive pent time with the ford family floyd family. I cant breathe. I cant breathe. Mama. Ama. What happened was, the whole world saw it and they just didnt hear it. They saw it. They saw it. They saw his face smashed up against the curve. They saw him holding there for a eight minutes and 26 seconds. They saw it. And they said oh, my god. Were going to change it. Were going change it in a big way. Last thing ill say, as a kid, i used to stutter a lot. Someone who has been a victim of systemic racism. But i tell you one thing dont do, dont ever talk down to these kids. D they tell me im sorry, dont finish my sentence. These kids are capable of doing anything anybody else can do. Lets not dumb it down. Theyre incredibly capable. Thats why i want to make sure that in those schools they have hese placement course as well. Children tend to turn out to be what you expect of them. Lets show them the love and respect, and and the support. Youve got to give their parents. Ore economic power a lot more emotional support. We can do this. Thank you for you. Thank you. , for quoice for that important question. We got that from a lot of delegates. And thank you for representing the the importance of lifting that up. And thank you Vice President biden our next question comes from one of our Education Support professionals in michigan. Vice President Biden, you know that we are teachers, we are support professionals, we are college staff, and faculty, and so this is one of what we call esps, Education Support professionals. You know, she has firsthand experience dealing with our very unqualified secretary of education betsy devos. I would like to introduce you to Paula Mcconnell who is a para professional in the utica school district. Paula, you now have the ear of the Vice President. What would you like to ask . Thank you, president milly. Good afternoon, Vice President biden my name is Paula Mcconnell. I am from mchome county in the great lake state of michigan. Ive been a para educator for over 30 years in Utica Community schools. In the midst of this pandemic, we as educators have some concerns. Want President Trump see that President Trump pushing through you the immediate opening of schools and the highly unqualify betsy devos either has nothing to say or is giving scarce Public School hours to private education and we face an economic crisis to puts en funding which educators at risk. Vice President Biden, i would like to know what you have to say to educators and parents who are so desperate for leadership on these issues but find none with the presented a ministration. Vice President Biden you know, to parra phrase teddy roosevelt. He said the American People can handle bad news, but you have to give it to them straight. That has never been more important than it is now. This. Ns have seen its come time to get his act together to beat this virus. But he squandered that sacrifice and its all about him. Think about it. He thinks the presidency is about him. It doesnt have a damn thing to do about him. Its about you. Its about the American People. First of all, it would be nice to have a president to tell the truth occasionally. Well do the work. But whos going to lead . We need a plan. Ive outlined the key steps for reopening safely including by opening childcare and schools reopen. Parents have to be able to trust their kids are safe when theyre able to go back to work when that occurs. One of the most important steps to reopening the entire economy. Educators make tremendous sacrifices. Theyve done the hard work to make the shift of online earning. Its not the educators fault because they come from poor families and because many places dont have but the longer the School Closed the classes are remote, the more students especially low income students and students of color fall behind. I would possibly lies the federal government to take the step one, provide for schools to reopen. Make sure states and districts have the funding to keep educators on the job in the idst of this crisis. Boost federal funding to cover the cost of p. P. E. , redesign classroomsings all the things schools are going to need to do to reopen and open with normality. Scale research and how covid affects children. Help understand how the virus affects children and create evidencebased guidance. Build a safer school best practice clearinghouse. And to help school and School Boards and children and childcare providers all across the country and around the world to share information approaches and pause for reopening. Work with childcare providers. Union, community and families on how to reopen safely. The bottom line is we are not 50 different nations in the United States and territories, beyond that territories. We are we are one nation. One nation. Nd we act and and the way the president tries to turn this into all some kind of racial contest about, i think it just its its immoral. We have to have a clear message based on science, based on what the experts tell us. And based on the circumstances that we allow to make sure we get the input and the people who are in the field, in the classroom, in the buildings dealing with the problem. Look, even when you get there, we figure out how to test and trace which doesnt exist very much in the country, how about a president that says, you know, stop the testing, its showing too many people have it . Stop the testing . Youre doing too much. He said slow it down. What in gods this is not about him. This is about the safety and security of our people. And parents including teachers are not going to be able to go back to work until theyre sure and one souln come who is 13 years old are able to be taken care safely. We can do it. The public is ready to pay for it. It will increase productive any this country. It will increase salary and increase the benefits of the whole country. Thank you you so much. Thank you, paula. And thank you, Vice President biden we have one you more question for you. Our final educator comes from enola, pennsylvania just outside of harrisburg. We picked pennsylvania just for you and not because our Vice President becky bringle is standing over here making noise. Yes. All right. All right. Settle down. Settle down. Settle down. Settle down. Settle down. Good grief. Becky bringle, i know you know becky, but she lived in harrisburg for a long, long time. Jimbo lamb, apparently your good friend, i did not know that is a High School Math teacher. Jimbo, you are on with Vice President biden what is your question . Thank you madam president and hello, Vice President biden hey, jimbo. Im a teacher in the Southern Region of the Pennsylvania Education Association for 17 years. I appreciate you providing time for me to ask this question and for listening to educators. Today, were more divided than we have been at any time in my lifetime whether it is about racial justice, Wearing Masks or simply a persons right. As educators, we teach our students to be respectful, kind and to work with others. But our leaders fail to model this behavior. So heres my question, as president , what will you do to hear the voices of all americans not just those that support your agenda . Im a mbo, i pennsylvania guy who married a philly girl. And i was just out in harrisburg. I as anyway, look, when started the campaign over a year ago and i announced. I said one of the things we have to do is unite the country and i got clobbered by everyone running for president , the democrats. They said you cant unite the country. I tell you what, if we cant unite the country, were in deep, deep, deep, deep trouble. This is the most important election of our lifetime. Not because im on it because four more years of donald trump will ruin the character of this nation. And the character of our country is literally on the ballot. Lives an livelihoods as well. I think were facing a serious threat. We have to meet it as one country. This president gives us no direction. And puts us against one another. You cant go on like this in the nation. Half are Wearing Masks. Half of the plan. Half just hoping for the best. This country is crying out for leadership and for healing. Thats part of a president s job to lead, to listen and to heal. And to listen to everyone. Its too personal and too ugly. It weakness us. It distracts us. It divides us. Its not who we are. And i refuse to accept our nation is permanently divided. It is not. Principals must never be compromised. But compromise is not a dirty word. Its how our government was designed to work. Ive done it my whole life. And so ill do this as president. But there are two reasons, jim, i decided to run this time. You know, if every if the perfect president if she or he requires to have 10 great attributes, ive not met one that has more than six. But all the attributes that you have may not be appropriate for that in history. There are two things ive done very well at. One, no one has doubted my word. Ive been able to bring democrats and republicans in the United States congress for the past decades to deal with big issues. Theres a reason for that, jimbo. I never questioned whether a man or womans motives. I question their judgment but not their motives. When i first got elected in 1972, i was only 29 years old. So i had to wait. My birthday didnt come until 17 days after the election. I was in washington. On december 18. Now, i got a phone call from a First Responder who said, i felt so badly for him in retrospect. He said youve got to come home. Theres been an accident. What happened . And the poor kid just blurted out, your wife is dead. Your daughters dead and your two boys may not make it. My wife and my daughter was 18 months old. My son almost 3. The other one almost 4. They were christmas shopping. The tree was on top of the car. They were broadsided by a tractortrailer and they were killed. The two boys made it. So what happened was i decide i didnt want to be United States senator. And my brother jimbo, when i was a kid we called him jimbo. His name is james. Well, jimbo is five and a half years younger. Raised all our money, the kiddie campaign we had. But the state could always get another senator. My kids couldnt get another dad. Senators ppened was and they said youve got to run. Youve got to be sworn in. And in retrospect, they saved my sanity. Just stayed for six months. Just stayed for six months. Ill never forget, the senator saying, only 1702 people have been sworn into the senate. Your wife worked so hard to get you elected. You owe it to your family. So i was supposed to go sworn in. I decided not to go. Well, the next day, i was in the hospital with my son, and they sent up the sex e secretary of the senate who swore me into the sent up the secretary of the senate who swore me in the hospital. One of the things i had to do was i had to meet with majority the r at 2 00 depending on week on tuesday afternoon. And i get an assignment from the leader, mike mass from montana. I thought all senators got assignments. No senators get assignments. Matter of fact im the first senator i ever knew i didnt know any better. Took me about five, six weeks, to take me pulse to the see how i was emotionally. So we walk in. Just before 2 00, walked down from below the senate. Walked out there, there were no eaders and i had my meeting. The next thing that happens is i walk in the door, and two friends of mine, one became a great friend and still is bob dofmente and the other was teddy kennedy. They introduced the disabilities act. And a particular senator got elected who didnt have much of a heart i thought. On the floor just saying theres no requirement that taxpayers should have to pay for lives on the buses. But i had to go off and have my meeting. Had to is it across the desk whats the matter, joe . And i then went off to the story saying there was no social redeeming value, no heart, etc. , etc. Joe, what would you say if i told you that senator and his wife were sitting in your home in december 1970 . This is now may of 1973. 1970. And he was a young man in our statewide newspaper. Hats him embracing me under his arm with two steel crutches. He looked out and said all i want from christmas is for someone to love me and take me home. I said what would you say that i adopted that young man . Ive learned something. He said over my years he said its always property the question of a man or woman. But you dont know what it is. And once you question your motive you can never do that. If i say your in the pock of or thised a that and by the way lets have an education bill, youre not going to work with me. So ive been successful bringing people together. They dont question motive. To ther areas their going inherit a world of in disawry. My whole career its been on national security. And thats what it is now. And the reason im running thats why i think, you know, im not flying. Many republican senators or Council Members would tell you i think theres a lot we can agree on. With trump out of the way, thats some of the problems out there. Particularly problems in education. That are tough now. Thats why i can get so much done. Look we always have a tremendous opportunity to peel back. We cant afford to open our doors and our ears and our hearts. Ive got to make sure that we need nobody out. They need each of us to do that in our country. Let me ask you something. When is the last time you thanked somebody . , you said last time thank you . Did you you go to him or her and say thank you. When is the last time you looked at each other and said, can i help you . T happen one person at a time. You challenge others. Tried it with my mom and you walk a mile. We can disagree, but we dont have to be disagreeable. Its how together we can do this. But we have to treat concluding comment, my dad used to always say, joey, everybody everybody deserves a second chance. Be treated s to with dignity. Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, jimbo for that question. Thank you, paula and turquoise, delegates. We want to thank our fellow delegates who were able to channel those questions that came in. Nd we have so much more. But we needed to hear from you, Vice President biden, about what you would bring to this, and we thank you for spending this time with us. Before you go, we want to give you just a few minutes. If you want to make any final comments if you ask these delegates for their support. Thank you. Ive been arguing a long time because ive been listening to my wife. By the way, my deceased wife was a teacher as well. Education should be put more in the hands of educators. We should have more input on what you teach, how you teach it, and when you teach it. You are the ones in the class rooms. You should have more input. And i really mean this, not im not just trying to be nice. You are and you need that more. So first of all, this is going to be a much more teacher centric education system. The vast majority of money comes from the state. But the portion of federal youre going to have a major say on what its spent and where its spent. Next e next thing i want to say one all is that i am angeredat really always me is the way educated people when youre walking in a reception line and someone says and what do you do besides teach i go, oh, ok. What do you do . Oh, i teach. Tell me about what you teach. Or i have a startup company. Or im in sales with such and such. You are and im not joking about this you are the most important profession in the United States. Give them ones that confidence. You let them believe in themselves. You were going that. And i promise you you will never ind an american president with who is more teacher centric and more supportive than me. Joe, any time without educators are going to outcompete fuss. Its time we raised the game to make you the managers. Thank you all for having me. And i appreciate everything youve done for me. I really do. Thank you you so much Vice President joe bind. The pack recommendations to become the next president of the United States. The decision will be made by mailin ballot. It is possible to do mail ballots in a very good way. Yes, it is. We are going to do that. It will come to the home of these almost 8,000 delegates and we will be counting those at the in august. And so Vice President biden, its been an honor to have you in our house today. God bless and be safe. Well, if ient biden [cheers and applause] the president s, from public affairs. Available now in paperback and ebook. 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