Staff Reports
In this captivating alternate reality, the tables have turned on the school reopening debate, with Democrats advocating for in-person learning and conservatives pushing for remote education. The Democratic Party, seizing the opportunity to exploit Republican divisions, accuses the GOP of being “anti-teacher” and ignorant of the negative consequences of prolonged school closures. Education policy experts also highlight the disproportionate impact of these closures on disadvantaged communities.
Democrats knew school closures were disastrous https://t.co/DM8Fxgj0lm
— OverTheBS (@Maddad0072) July 28, 2023
In this intriguing twist, the statements from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre are completely accurate. The United States faced some of the lengthiest school closures among peer nations, while other countries managed to reopen schools more swiftly. The disastrous effects of remote learning have become glaringly evident, with a decline in educational achievement and a significant toll on students’ mental health.
As we reflect on this parallel timeline, the critical lesson learned is the importance of avoiding future school closures at all costs. The negative consequences of remote learning are far-reaching, impacting academic progress, disciplinary issues, and psychological well-being. Teachers unions, policymakers, and pundits who opposed reopening schools must be held accountable for their role in perpetuating this disastrous experiment. It is essential not to allow them to rewrite history and distance themselves from a policy they once supported.
The presence of affluent Americans enrolling their children in private schools, while public schools remained closed, raises questions about the efficacy of remote learning. This begs the question: if it wasn’t suitable for the children of the elite, why should it be considered acceptable for those who couldn’t afford alternative options? The actions of these affluent parents, who are disproportionately represented in the media and pundit class, undermine the argument that remote learning was the best solution for all students.
The final, and perhaps most disheartening, lesson is the influence of political biases on the decision to implement and prolong school closures. Antipathy towards former President Trump superseded objective evaluations of remote learning, turning the debate into a political litmus test. This resulted in the United States being an outlier among peer nations concerning school closures. If not for the polarizing figure at the center of the debate, it is likely that left-wing opinion would have united in favor of in-person instruction.
Now that the dust has settled and Trump is out of the Oval Office, it is time for media figures, unions, and politicians to acknowledge their complicity in a disastrous mistake. Remote learning was never an adequate substitute for in-person instruction, and it is regrettable that it took Trump leaving office for this truth to be recognized. The negative consequences of school closures should serve as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing the education and well-being of our children, free from political biases.
