When students across the country were sent home due to the coronavirus pandemic last spring, millions of children didn’t know if they would ever set foot in a classroom again.
Thanks to a community that has the resources and motivation to do so, my peers and I have been able to experience our senior year of high school in a hybrid learning format that permits two days of classroom instruction each week. Unfortunately, thousands of students did not have the same luck and were left behind entirely, and this horrific neglect of America’s youth should not leave the nation’s collective conscience until we learn from it.
Virtual learning created an instant economic gap where students who did not have proper technology were at a disadvantage, causing districts to scramble for the right materials. That was, of course, if these already at-risk students even continued to attend their classes under the new circumstances. An analysis from Bellwether Education Partners discovered that roughly 3 million “marginalized” students had gone “missing” in the U.S. since last March, according to ABC News.
Then there is the mental health crisis that has plagued children and adolescents, becoming a grim hallmark of Generation Z. Concerns over suicidal thoughts and other risky behavior have alarmed experts, as well as concerns regarding domestic abuse with a plurality of young people spending more time at home.
Thankfully, parents and students nationwide recognized the dangerous consequences and demanded that schools offer in-person instruction. These advocates faced an aggressive battle with teachers unions with their own reason for keeping instruction online for everyone. Some of the reasons were valid, while many, such as the Unified Teachers Los Angeles request for “Medicare for all” and defunded police, were not.
The unions that put up the toughest fight were often in communities where students needed to be in classrooms the most. This reality only deepened the disparities in education that prevent students of all backgrounds from achieving economic success, something that was once considered a key pillar in progressive orthodoxy.
Those who have paid close attention to how different school districts have responded understand that the pandemic is responsible for the most compelling case for school choice in decades. A Gallup poll released last fall found that the number of parents deciding to homeschool doubled to 10%, and overall parent satisfaction with their child’s K-12 education took a dip, meaning that people are seeking change.
When the decision is made to fund students instead of systems, localities are empowering families as opposed to a monolithic government body that has failed marginalized communities for generations.
States are noticing the desire for an expansion of voucher programs and taking action. The Florida Legislature moved forward with a $200 million school-choice proposal last week, and Kentucky overrode Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto to pass legislation promotes open enrollment and offers a scholarship tax credit last month.
Parents should continue to fight for vouchers and also push for tax deductions or credits for learning pods, a new method of small-group learning that acts as a supplement to class instruction.
An educated nation is a thriving and innovative one. While some families had the privilege to decide what format their children would be learning in for the 2020-2021 school year, many communities were held hostage at the mercy of unions and local governments. Millions of children and adolescents have lost an entire year of learning, and they deserve better in the years to come.
Cameron Arcand is a political commentator from Orange County, California. He is the founder of YoungNotStupid.com and a contributor to the Western Journal.
