COVID-19 Highlights The Importance of School Choice
My grandparents’ generation, the Greatest Generation, defended the world from the darkness of National Socialism and laid the groundwork for communist containment and the eventual destruction of the Evil Empire, the Soviet Union. They were a generation of giants.
In the midst of the great depression and dust bowl, they put on their boots and went from the cities and their farms to factories and the Atlantic and Pacific theaters to produce the necessary goods to defend freedom and fight; many gave that last final measure of devotion on far off shores from Normandy to Iwo Jima for the American way of life.
Far from empowering students, the policy prescriptions (the teachers’ unions) support have, in part, have contributed to increases in depression, isolation, and suicide. Pardon me, but that sounds more like some kids are spiritually and physically dying — not thriving.
Despite living in the midst of the Pax American, we still have battles to fight. I am speaking of the stuff of the soul. The greatest battles we fight, as human beings, are the internal ones — the demons and tormentors of darkness, despair, and depression. Fear.
Evidence to date demonstrates that school age children are safest in school, yet schools are closed and isolation enforced for many who are still in class. There is an ineffable part of the human condition which we are collectively sacrificing, connection and togetherness. The children are the first casualties in this divisive line of assault on the human spirit and development.
Teachers’ unions, like the Colorado Educational Association, claim that they are “taking the lead so every student thrives.” Yet, that couldn’t be further from the truth. By supporting candidates that acquiesce to their demands to close schools kids are getting lost. We must foster greater school choice, outside the control of the union cabal.
Far from empowering students, the policy prescriptions they support have, in part, have contributed to increases in depression, isolation, and suicide. Pardon me, but that sounds more like some kids are spiritually and physically dying — not thriving.
The expansion of free public charter options and opening up of vouchers are critical, especially for low income and minority communities. Education is a life raft. Unfortunately, the policies of the teachers unions are drowning the next generation of Americans. There is no point sending a kid a life ring if it is made of concrete and that is precisely what the failed policies of teachers unions across Colorado and America have done.
If the attempts to save our lives sacrifice our humanity, liberty, and the developmental futures of our children, is that not worse than virus of which 99.9% of people survive? There are things worse than death, at least we used to believe that.
