School Closure

Posted on by That Old Guy

Here we go again. Politicians say follow the science and data in their edicts to battle the Chinese Virus. Okay, data and science show that our children are resistant to this menace. In every respect children are very resilient when it comes to this Virus. They contract the virus rarely (less than 1%) and they survive if they do (less than 1/10 of 1% mortality). Hold your horses – politicians say all children are going to die. Politicians and unions are saying keep schools closed.

Pediatricians overwhelmingly say open schools. Doctors say overwhelmingly open schools. Only politicians and their supporting unions, like teacher unions, say keep them closed. And – surprise – they all want more money!! Science? Data?

Okay, what happened to last year’s money. Schools closed so we should have seen savings in transportation (school busing), utilities, and administrative costs. About one third of a year’s worth of the school yearly budget should have been saved. More money?

So politicians and teacher unions scare parents in order to advance their political ideology and defeat political opponents. And parents fall for it. Unions all yell they are afraid for their members – the staff and teachers. Yet again the science and data, especially the data from Europe, show that the staff would be safe. And taxpayers fall for it.

So here is the solution. Let parents decide. Open the schools. No special on-line programs. No special schedules. Kids go to school period. If parents don’t want to send their children, fine. If parents want their kids to continue to fall behind, fine. Teachers don’t like it they can get another job (welcome to the private sector where there is no such thing as tenure). Those parents not sending their children accept the responsibility for educating their children with no money from the government. As a taxpayer I provide a public school. You don’t want to send your kid then you handle it.

What a concept – parents responsible for raising their kids and not the federal government.

I’m an old guy and I don’t get it