The coronavirus pandemic was obviously tragic in many ways, killing many of the most vulnerable, disrupting life, and causing job loss and economic hardship for millions. But in other ways, the experience has helped people gain perspective about important social problems.

One of them pertains specifically to education. The abandonment of in-person instruction by teachers unions was very revealing. It showed that unions are powerful organizations with no concern at all for children’s education. The learning loss they have caused has harmed schoolchildren.