In the wake of the pandemic, parents are struggling with keeping their children’s education on track. Remote learning, while necessary during the initial months of the pandemic, has failed many students who are suffering academically, mentally and emotionally.
So after nearly 365 days away from schools, where does the decision stand? And why are so many public schools still closed, or only offering partial in-person learning, while private schools have been back in the classroom for months?
First: The Data
Second: Local Control
Parents, children, educators, and policymakers have the same goal: Get kids back in the classroom safely. President Biden said this was a “top goal” for his first 100 days. Unfortunately, this statement is at odds with many public-sector teacher unions that, from California to Virginia, have blocked in-person learning. But not all. One union leader has backed the goal of getting kids back to school, but noted the funding challenges that some schools face for providing masks, hand sanitizer and even soap amidst budget cuts.
Public-sector unions are governed by state laws, and each state determines what issues, such as offering in-person or virtual learning, must be negotiated between school districts and teachers’ unions. This also comes into play with teacher strikes. States determine if unions can walk out over “safety concerns” or for other matters.
And “when teacher unions walk out – as the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) was poised to do before reaching a delayed agreement with the school district on Feb. 7 – they walk out on kids,” says Illinois Policy Institute’s Mailee Smith. “Parents can’t just choose a different provider as easily as they could if workers were striking at their preferred grocery store.”
Third: A Moving Goalpost
When school districts think they’ve met union demands about safety, the unions have changed or increased their demands. For example, the Fairfax County, Virginia, school system demanded (and received) priority vaccinations for their teachers, then the Fairfax Education Association president said the union would not support a return to full-time, in-person education even in the fall. Now the union wants students to be vaccinated before in-person instruction resumes.
There are similar frustrations across the country, showing the out-sized influence of teachers’ unions, with priorities that aren’t always in line with the educators they represent.
What are parents to do?
Balancing the wants and needs of teachers and families is critical to solving this issue. Parents are the best advocates for their children and should learn about local control and teachers’ unions in their communities and states.
How to take action today:
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