Opinion: California School Children Have Been Treated Shamefully During The Pandemic

San Diego CA

11 April, 2021

2:53 PM

Description

By Dan Walters • CalMatters Columnist, Times of San Diego April 11, 2021 A comprehensive history of the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on California would surely conclude that the state's school children have been treated shamefully. The incessant political squabbling over closing and reopening schools, and the sporadic efforts at in-home learning, have once again demonstrated that the supposed adults who manage and operate public education in California are more focused on their own interests than on the wellbeing of students. Indeed, one could easily describe what has happened and not happened in the schools as child neglect on a massive scale. California schools were not a roaring success even before pandemic struck more than a year ago. By almost any measure, we lagged behind other states, particularly in meeting the needs of the more than three million students classified as poor or English-learners. The many billions of dollars that the Legislature appropriated to improve their outcomes under former Gov. Jerry Brown's Local Control Funding Formula were often misdirected with little accountability. When the coronavirus reared its ugly head, schools were quickly shuttered and educators scrambled to replace classroom instruction with at-home instruction via the Internet. But once again, many of the children already at risk of failure were left behind, lacking the resources and/or familial support to participate. The damage has been huge, widening the already yawning gap between the at-risk students and their more privileged peers. A new report on impacts in Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest school system, reveals the extent of the damage. LA Unified's classrooms have been closed for more than a year and will only begin to reopen later this month, largely due to conflicts between the district's managers and its unions — a syndrome that's delayed reopening in many large urban districts. "The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the livelihoods, health, education, childcare, and financial stability of millions," says the report issued by Great Public Schools, a local advocacy group. "Students in Los Angeles Unified School District…are experiencing the painful loss of connection with their peers, teachers and school staff, and serious loss of learning that will have life-long consequences if not addressed." "We may not know the full impact of this last year on our students for another year or more, but the preliminary data we have paints an alarming picture," the report adds. Among the specific findings, based on LA Unified's own data: These numbers are — or should be — shocking and embarrassing to every adult involved in the operation of California schools, from Gov. Gavin Newsom downward. Not only are the futures of the affected children dimmer but their educational lapses will affect the entire state for decades to come. CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.