Kids are scheduled to go back to school in just a few weeks and the debate about whether or not we can safely send them back is raging. On this evening's show, Michael will be weighing the risks of sending our kids back to school vs. the risks of keeping them home, and talking about an article by Ethan Yang at the American Institute for Economic Research. Yang argues that the damage done by keeping schools closed may be more severe than the problem we're trying to address.
School Closures Are A Time-Sensitive Policy
The article suggests that the time to have these discussions about closing schools and distance learning was probably January. He quotes experts who believe that we've waited too long and that doing this now, at this level of spread, is like closing the barn door after the cow is gone.
Closing Schools May Hurt Children More Than It Protects Them From COVID-19
Many children depend on school for time in a stable environment and basic nutrition. In addition, many experts believe children are the least vulnerable to COVID-19. Sources cited in the article also question the effectiveness of online learning, with many children missing out on six months of face-to-face teaching.
Childcare Obligations Will Decrease the Effectiveness of the Healthcare Sector
Closing schools could force many healthcare workers to choose between caring for their kids and going in to work. Closing schools may result in a reduction of available medical staff.
Closing Schools Will Exacerbate Existing Economic Calamity
The cost of closing schools would be massive and there would almost certainly be further economic retraction. Sending children to school has been a basic component of American socioeconomic life for generations. Suddenly having millions of kids at home in an economic system which is virtually built on the assumption that their working parents don’t have to take care of them during the day would be a huge disruption.
Schools opening as originally scheduled for in-person learning would certainly put students and teachers at greater risk of COVID-19 infection, but we all have to ask ourselves if the trade-offs are worth making.
The videos below are both from back in March when shutdowns and school closures were just starting in most parts of the country. They illustrate some of the points Yang makes in his article about the impact of school closings, both on the economy and on working families.
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