Read on Twitter
We talk quite a bit about the impact of school closures on children, their families, and their futures. This is a thread about the medium to long-term impact of school closures on society and the political landscape. 1/
Middle Class Divestment from Public Education. Enrollment dips occurred in nearly every city district in the US. Families choosing private, homeschool, pods/microschools. When the MC divests from Public Ed, it will create long-term funding issues & exacerbate inequity. 2/
There is only so long that a parent will go without their children being educated. You can now hire a virtual Zoom tutor from anywhere (inc India & other countries), and you can give your child individualized attention using your state curriculum-better than Zoom w/40 kids. 3/
Middle Class divestment from Public Education also means that public schools will become similar to public hospitals-used only as a last resort for people without options. This will have a devastating effect on equity, and future prospects for low income students. 4/
Funding spirals mean layoffs for Teachers & PS Staff. In blue states, Teaching is a profession that pays well and has enormous perks & benefits unavailable to most private sector workers. 5/
Erosion of Labor Union Power- we already see support waning for Teachers& #39; Unions, who many are blaming for schools not reopening. We are seeing lifelong Dems turn against Teachers& #39; Unions and hoping to curb their power and influence. 6/
Shift in political landscape - it is an absolute fact that this has become a wedge issue in state/local politics. Watching red states in the US open their schools with minimal issue is causing anger and hostility against Dem politicians. Dems need state legislatures. 7/
In NYC, this will influence the Mayoral & City Council races only 1 year from now. The longer children are not in a classroom, the angrier that parents get and their desire to find a candidate who will stand up to special interest increases. 8/
We can expect the same in cities/states throughout the US. People can tolerate many injustices, but if you harm someone& #39;s child for no justifiable reason, there will be repercussions. Poorly thought out COVID policy is likely part of why Dems lost ground in the House. 9/
Many children have not been in school since MARCH. We are now talking 9 months of no classroom learning. This is a preventable national catastrophe, driven by anti-science rhetoric and there is no conceivable way we will escape without a shift in the electoral landscape. 10/10
