COVID and the Classroom

May/June 2021

Collateral damage in the schools

Now that the fifteen-month COVID stranglehold on the country is beginning to fade, many areas of society are assessing the damage and making plans to never let this happen again. (Some are desperately trying to hold on to the power they enjoyed while ruining everyone else’s lives, but most people’s patience with them has run out.)

One area in which COVID had the greatest impact on families and communities, of course, was in education. Classes were cancelled or forced to go online. Physical classrooms that stayed open were retrofitted with plexiglass shields, primarily at taxpayer expense, and masks were required of young and old. Forget the traditions of the academic year – no fine arts, no sports, and no graduation ceremonies.

Fear of the virus ruled, and students missed a year of their lives.

Students’ and even families’ mental health was significantly affected.

The mental and emotional health costs of draconian COVID responses have been staggering¹. Not only have depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation skyrocketed among young people because of unrelenting fear messages², but family dynamics have been damaged because of lost jobs and income.³

Not science; just politics.

As early as June of 2020, respected public policy organizations⁴ realized there was more behind the continued quarantines than “following the science.”⁵ Physicians all over the world who were successfully treating COVID patients⁶ began to sound the alarm about lockdowns, closed schools, and destroyed businesses.⁷ Schools remained closed, though, and normal life was thwarted at every turn.

We learned some important things we probably were not supposed to know.

As parents stayed home with their students to supervise the hours on end at the computer, they began to discover that reading, writing, and arithmetic were not always the focus of each day’s lessons.⁸ They saw ideological narratives in much of the curriculum, often spanning courses that never should have had a political slant at all. Those who finally questioned school leaders received more of a dismissive hand than a listening ear, which made many parents wonder if there were something that was intentionally being hidden from them.

We found out who really is in charge.

What became crystal clear to anyone who was paying attention was that aggressive, wealthy teachers’ unions are in charge of education in America. Teachers’ unions are leftist power centers whose priorities are centralized and controlled education, progressive indoctrination, and policies that guarantee their place at the public trough. Students’ welfare does not make their Top 10 List.

The Democrat Party bows to the teachers’ unions.

Since teachers’ unions are huge contributors to the Democrat Party, their goals are the Biden administration’s goals. The unions did not want teachers to return to the classroom, so Democrats obeyed. The unions wanted indoctrination such as Critical Race Theory, Action Civics, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education to become foundational to what is taught in the classroom, so those curricula were welcomed. Teachers’ union leaders even advised the CDC against schools’ reopening, as discovered from emails between Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.⁹

But what about local control and school boards?

We used to believe that locally-elected school boards would stand in the gap to support teachers’ independence and creativity in their classrooms, as well as students’ physical and psychological welfare. We also used to think that they would enthusiastically partner with the parents and families of their students. Those days seem to be over in many places. Stories abound of frustrated parents’ appearances at school board meetings where they were not heard, even to the point of being escorted out of the meeting. In Arizona recently, board members dashed for cover and cancelled their meeting when they heard a group of parents planned to attend.¹⁰

Sometimes crises bring out the best after exposing the worst.

Even though much of this is alarming, there is hope. Parents, tax-paying citizens, and national leaders now know that children are being exposed to radical indoctrination more than they might have ever dreamed.¹¹ Because of this new knowledge, many parents are choosing to homeschool their children or look for homeschooling co-ops and pods where they can join with other parents to provide the type of education they want for their children. After seeing curricula that are steeped in Critical Race Theory (some might call it Classroom Apartheid), Action/Protest Civics, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education, parents are realizing that they must take the education of their children into their own hands. As Dennis Prager describes,¹² it is an important first step.

Raising their voices against “woke” education.

Parents are also letting their voices be heard through their own activism. Moms’ groups¹³ dedicated to saving their children’s future are forming all over the country. Concerned citizens are attending school board meetings for the first time, and many are deciding to run for positions on the board.¹⁴ Because of citizens’ outrage, governors, state legislatures,¹⁵ and even a few state boards of education¹⁶ are beginning to acknowledge the problems and are taking a stand against the extremist indoctrination.¹⁷

School Choice is a serious issue now.

“School Choice” is a frequent bullet point in Republicans’ campaign materials, but most have no idea what the term means, nor do they understand the important ramifications of not doing it correctly. “Letting the money follow the child” is not the automatic answer because the money (taxes) still comes from the government. A better solution is to support Education Savings Accounts¹⁸ where parents can save their own money and use it for their children’s education as they see fit. States that have been held hostage by teachers’ unions for years are finally beginning to explore real school choice for the many citizens who want it.¹⁹

Parents should feel empowered.

Knowledge truly is power, and parents are now more knowledgeable than ever because of a year of COVID lockdowns. As Jenni White explains in The Federalist,²⁰ parents can be significant influencers on their children’s education:

1. Do not be afraid to homeschool. There are national organizations and local groups that can guide you in everything from curriculum choice to teaching strategies.
2. If you want your children to stay in your local school, remember that you pay the taxes or tuition, so you have a legitimate voice. If you do not feel heard, find other like-minded parents who are willing to stand together.
3. Go to school board meetings, even if only to listen and observe. Board members are usually surprised when anyone shows up because they are used to parents’ being too busy and uninformed.
4. Join the parent-teacher association and take friends with you for support.
5. Attend school functions and talk with other parents about issues that concern you. Create a group of parents who are willing to speak up.
6. Find local political groups that are dedicated to freedom and opposed to indoctrination. Attend their meetings to learn and meet others who share your interests.
7. Run for school board! Your perspective is desperately needed. A new conservative school board member in Georgia recently reported that the first time she voted against an initiative, the rest of the board members were shocked. They told her, “We’ve never had anyone vote ‘no’ before.” In Virginia, a fed-up mother ran for school board and won, much to the surprise of the current board.²¹

You do not need a cast of thousands to get started.

As Malcolm Gladwell describes in The Tipping Point, big sea change does not have to have huge numbers to get started. COVID exposed dangers and enemies, and they are not viruses. It is not too late for informed parents to save their children’s education, however, if they will claim their influence and work together. Our children’s welfare depends on it.

REFERENCES:

1. CDC study suggests virtual learning can be damaging to children’s physical and mental
2. Depression and anxiety
3. Doctors are in favor of opening schools immediately.
4. The impact of Covid on the education
5. Study shows use of these therapies is associated with less hospitalization and death.
6. I Do Not Consent: My Fight Against Medical Cancel Culture
7. America’s Frontline Doctors
8. Covid-19 did not break the public school system, it simply exposed the problems that already
9. Powerful teachers’ unions exert political influence over CDC school reopening
10. Arizona school board bolts as parents protest decision to keep mask
11. Former AG, Bill Barr issues massive warning about America’s public school system and outlines action plan.
12. The single best thing Americans Can Do to retake America.
13. https://www.momsforliberty.org/
14. Noem pledges to bar action civics and critical race theory.
15. Texas bars protest civics and
16. Georgia’s Board of Education bars protest civics and CRT.
17. Desantis blocks critical race theory from Florida classrooms.
18. Education savings accounts promising way forward for school choice.
19. Once held hostage by teachers’ unions West Virginia just passed sweeping school choice
20. Ways parents are responsible for public educations failures.
21. Loudon County, Virginia Mom Runs for School Board and Wins!
22. CDC Guidance on opening public

From treating COVID patients in her local hospital to fighting for the rights of frontline doctors, Dr. Simone Gold tells her story.

The bumper-sticker directive to ‘follow the science’ was actually an evasion of responsibility. It let people off the hook for their bad decisions in a crisis. Was New York Governor Cuomo’s executive order sending COVID-hospitalized patients back to nursing homes to infect other vulnerable nursing home patients ‘following the science’? Of course not. And sending post-hospitalization COVID-positive patients back to nursing homes was unnecessary. Relative to the total nursing home population, Governor Cuomo contributed to a larger percentage of nursing-home deaths—especially when compared to the states without such a policy. New Jersey’s over seven thousand nursing home deaths account for half of the state’s fatalities since March. Pennsylvania did just as miserably. These governors made specific decisions that cost thousands of the most vulnerable, most expendable, their lives. But they didn’t do it to their own relatives.”

Learn more here.

July 30 – August 1, 2021

Franklin, TN

In collaboration with Leadership Institute, Eagle Forum is thrilled to offer you and your students the opportunity to gather together for some great fun, training, and networking with other like-minded conservatives this summer in Franklin, Tennessee (just outside of Nashville)!

Through the generosity of wonderful donors, the cost of this event is only $25! And, if you register before June 30, you may enjoy an even further discounted rate of $20! Registration includes hotel, meals and conference.

With the best speakers from Leadership Institute and Eagle Forum, The Student Eagle Leadership Summit is a great opportunity for you to meet other high school and college students from across the country who share your values and interests. This is certain to be an event in which you will form friendships and contacts that you will maintain for a lifetime. Check out our tentative agenda and be sure to share this great offering with your friends and family!