An Idaho lawmaker denounced the public health officials who are making policy decisions in his community regarding the coronavirus and suggested that listening to them is an “elitist approach” to the pandemic.
Republican state Sen. Steven Thayn, a member of the state legislature’s Education Working Group, supports a bill that would strip the public health districts of their power when it comes to determining restrictions in schools meant to stop the spread of the virus, according to the local NPR affiliate. Instead, they want local school boards to take up this responsibility.
“We’re letting a few fearful people control the lives of those of us who are not fearful,” Thayn said. “Listening to experts to set policy is an elitist approach and I’m very fearful of an elitist approach. I’m also fearful that it leads to totalitarianism, especially when you say, ‘Well. We’re doing it for the public good.’”
The bill is also supported by Rep. Ryan Kerby from New Plymouth, a former school superintendent, who pointed out that the officials making these decisions are not elected to their positions.
“I believe health district boards have great expertise, they all have education liaisons who have been studying these things all over the nation, around the world, but at the end of the day they are not really in a position to govern schools, they have tremendous expertise, the schools need to listen to them, and in the bill, it says the school boards will consult with the health districts,” he said.
“In governance, and the section of code that we’re changing, it’s governance of schools,” Kerby added. “So in any governance, the elected officials or the people in charge can be held accountable by the citizenry. Whether they re-elect them again, elect somebody else next time, recall them, and so the people have representation that they can disagree with, and right now with health district boards able to make the decision, the people do not have recourse.”
The state has recorded approximately 25,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the New York Times.
A fierce debate has played out over the question of whether to reopen classrooms this fall or resort to virtual means. Among those calling for in-person learning is President Trump. But there has been some cause for concern.
Nearly 100,000 children contracted the coronavirus in the last two weeks of July. And there have already been setbacks reported in some places, including a Georgia high school that temporarily shut back down due to an outbreak.
