One devastating aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic was the shutting of many schools across our nation. This disrupted the education of students and the lives and routines of their families.
The results of this action are now clear. The federal education department’s first look at test scores since the pandemic began reveals the worst drop in elementary school reading and math scores in decades. It is estimated that two decades of progress were erased during this two-year period.
By the fall of 2020 the United States was a global outlier in keeping many of its schools shuttered. Most European nations had sent their children back to school. Sweden never closed their schools. The results of this approach validate its decision as students did not experience any learning loss.
The learning loss among American students was greatest in cities controlled by teachers’ unions. According to standardized tests, the students suffering the greatest learning loss are low-income and minority students.
One would think that teachers’ unions would care about the academic achievement and well-being of students. But that apparently is not the case.
American Federation of Teachers boss Randi Weingarten, who pushed shutdowns as long as she possibly could before parents revolted, acts as if this disastrous approach never happened, tweeting “This is a year to accelerate learning by rebuilding relationships, focusing on the basics.”
Why did it take until late 2022 for Weingarten to realize this?
It was Weingarten’s union that was the main disrupter of the education of millions of children. America’s teacher unions demanded that schools be kept shut even as they remained open in Europe.
This disgraceful approach is nothing new to unions. The late Albert Shanker, who led the AFT from 1974 to 1997, said, “When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of children.”
One can be pro-teacher but anti teacher union. Teaching is an honorable profession that is deserving of our respect and support.
But unions, which consistently oppose any strengthening of academic standards or accountability measures, are not the allies of our children. Unions demand more money for less work while allowing political indoctrination in the schools they control. According to OpenSecrets, the nation’s premier research group that tracks money in U.S. politics, 99.2 percent of AFT union political contributions in 2020 went to Democrats.
Congress provided $190 billion in federal “COVID relief” to schools to reopen and address learning losses. While much of this money has yet to be spent, in some communities the money has been poorly spent. For example, Austin ISD bowed to the pressure of political correctness, spent millions on continuing virtual learning despite clear evidence that such an approach is ineffective.
Boerne ISD’s schools were among the first in Texas to reopen in August 2020. An aggressive approach was taken to eliminate the learning loss because of school closings in April and May of 2020.
Money was spent wisely on things that impacted learning and achievement. Boerne ISD’s operational spending/student is $2,000 less than the state average, while federal COVID aid amounted to only $571/ student as opposed to the statewide average of $3,400/student.
Yet, BISD’s results from Texas’ STAAR accountability tests are now as high as they were prior to the pandemic. We are one of the few school districts in the state and nation to have achieved those enviable results.
A good education is the foundation for success in life. While many of America’s schools performed admirably over the past few years, others have failed the test miserably. No one has been hurt more than low-income students, especially those of color.
It would be wise to remember this the next time you hear politicians bloviate about how much they care about economically disadvantaged people. This hypocrisy reminds me of Jesus’ criticism of the legalistic Pharisees in Matthew 15:9: “These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”
While extra money spent on education can be helpful, it is only one of many factors that produce excellence. Environment, a quality culture, professional development, high expectations, standards, accountability, parental involvement and community support all have a significant impact on a child’s education.
As we approach the midterm elections, it is important to not only listen to what politicians say but ask what they have really done to support academic achievement and the progress of our students. After all, a child’s mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Rich Sena is a local Republican.
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