In a recent move that has ignited a flurry of reactions, President Joe Biden has been lauded by his administration for his role in reopening schools post the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this self-congratulatory stance has not been without its critics.

On August 28, the White House released a statement praising the 80-year-old president for his instrumental role in resuming in-person learning. The statement highlighted, "When President Biden took office, less than half of K-12 students were going to school in person. Today, thanks to the President’s swift actions and historic investments, every school in America is open safely for in-person instruction." The release went on to emphasize the president's commitment from day one to ensure safe in-person instruction, accelerate academic achievement, and foster communities where students feel a sense of belonging.

However, the statement conveniently glossed over the primary reason schools were initially closed: the global effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The president's visit to a middle school in Washington, D.C., on its inaugural day of classes, further underscored his administration's push to highlight their role in the reopening of schools. Yet, the narrative of the Biden administration taking a leading role in this endeavor has been met with skepticism.

Critics were quick to point out the perceived audacity of the administration taking credit for what many see as an inevitable outcome. A particularly scathing opinion piece by The Wall Street Journal accused the president of attempting to "rewrite the history of Covid school closings." The editorial board sarcastically remarked on the administration's announcement, stating, "What an achievement — three and a half years after the start of the pandemic, all schools are open." The piece also criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for allegedly taking cues from union chief Randi Weingarten for its reopening guidelines.

The online community was equally divided. Detractors of the president echoed the sentiments of the WSJ piece, with comments like "is Joe taking credit for the sunrise?" highlighting the skepticism. Others argued that both former President Donald Trump and Biden should have been more proactive in ensuring schools remained open.

On the other hand, Biden's supporters were quick to jump to his defense. They pointed out that it was Trump who initially "closed school" and that Biden was left with the task of managing the aftermath. A supporter noted that while some districts chose to remain closed, Biden provided alternative strategies to facilitate earlier reopenings.

In the ever-polarized political climate, the debate over who deserves credit for school reopenings is unlikely to abate soon. As the nation grapples with the long-term impacts of the pandemic on education, the focus should ideally shift from political point-scoring to ensuring the best outcomes for students.