COVID Highlights California ’s Education Failures

Michael D. TannerOne of the most interesting things about the COVID-19 pandemic is the way it has exposed previously existing flaws in so many government institutions.Many of California ’s long-standing problems, from housing to the criminal justice system to business regulation have been both exacerbated and highlighted by COVID.In particular, the pandemic has made it difficult to ignore problems with the state ’s public school system.For example, nearly all California public schools remain closed, and most cities have no plans for when and how to reopen.As a result,almost six million California children are currently unable to attend classes. While Los Angeles County schools couldreopen today under state regulations, LA Unified School District ’s reopening date is still pending, asnegotiations with the teachers ’ union drags on. Meanwhile in San Francisco, which has yet to put forward a reopening plan, the school board has been embroiled in a fight over renaming schools.School closures are bad for children in many ways. Children suffer psychologically from the absence of contact and socialization.They are less able to build relationships with their teachers, and studies show that academic performance declines substantially. Parents often have to sacrifice work and income in order to stay home and care for school age kids.All of these problems are particularly severe for poor and minority students who frequently lack access to broadband and other “study from homeâ€...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs