By Justin Lahart Close Justin Lahart July 24, 2020 5:30 am ET The start of the new U.S. school year is just around the corner but, with the massive disruptions the Covid-19 pandemic is causing, there is no telling what it will look like. That isn’t only a problem for students and their parents—it is a significant obstacle to the economy’s ability to recover and to its long-run health.
The economic consequences could be severe. There are nearly 60 million prekindergarten, elementary, middle and high-school students in the U.S., and with online instruction a poor substitute for actual time in school, many of their educations risk being diminished. More immediately, school closings are creating a child care crisis that will make it hard for many parents to hold on to their jobs, making it even harder for either the labor market or spending to recover.
In school districts that already have decided to make school fully online this fall, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest, parents will have to manage working while supervising their children. In those planning on hybrid models, such as New York City—the nation’s largest—they will need to manage child care some days . Even in schools that do open full time, staff or student Covid infections could change that.
But the fall may be more fraught. In the spring many parents weren’t at work in any case as a result of lockdowns and so were able to supervise their children’s online learning. And by chance, schools in many of the places that eased restrictions first, such as the South, end their school years earlier. Now, with more businesses open, and more companies expecting their employees to return to the office, parents will be left scrambling.
More than half of U.S. workers have occupations incompatible with working from home, according to the Labor Department. Single parents in these jobs, who tend to be poorer and female, are facing a horrible choice between their need for income and the education and safety of their children.
Source: Financial Digest (financialdigest.net)
heard May? May? Wake up WSJ. This could severely impact the recovery AND set back women in the workforce. May, indeed
heard First they wanted us to sacrifice our parents and grandparents to save the economy for our children and now we’re supposed to sacrifice our children for same? Who the hell is going to be left except workers and billionaires?
heard By the way, Wyoming corp and income tax = zero
heard Wyoming schools are open, and plenty of vacation housing is available. Fall is the slow season, though lovely. Life could be worse then spending the fall in the Rockies.
heard Test and trace first.
heard Having kids spreading infection to their parents and grandparents and killing them could also make it harder for the economy to recover
heard da guvenment will gimma dat chek so uum ye i gat 5 keds
Maybe we should come up with a national strategy instead of acting like every man for himself is sufficient in a global emergency, then?
many of the short-term arrangements working parents and child care tutors, babysitters and the like, and the private schools they send their children to are more likely to be fully open. nuff said
Doesn’t take a genius to see this. Blame the Trump admin and Republicans for dropping the ball royally on the pandemic. They are too busy promoting mega donors bean, golfing, criming and being as always decisive. We would be in a better place by now.
And kids at school could kill them and raid infection rates through the roof. Weigh it.
One undeniable fact, the covid19 virus needs a new host every 10 days. Do strong firebreak national August stoppage, with one week prep, mandatory 24 quarantine for 14 days. Essential business/trvl exempt. Federal Government issues 2 week pay based on W2 from last Tax filing.
jdlahart And yet, the children will be alive and survive this horrific mess 45 has created. The economy? Where are your values?
Schools should focus on options, not a “one-size-fits-all” answer. Parents who have the ability to keep their kids at home and take online classes should continue to do so.
That’s what Biden and the democrats want!
And the grandparents will have to watch the kids....the group we are trying to protect...
Woohoooo I don't know if you guys know this but uhhhh millions of parents are already out of work! Why don't you put the blame where it truly belongs (TRUMP!) instead of now trying to guilt trip people into risking their children's lives? Maybe try that out.
It's totally wrong. If you want economy, do the testing tracking and isolating first to control the virus..... or, forget the economy
Won't somebody think of the poor billionaires?
Let’s be sure to mention why our kids are going to be at home, rather than just state the obvious consequences: Complete and total leadership failure resulting from the placing of one ego over the health of Americans.
Get some competent leadership Until then, nothing will change
distancelearning2020 how many teachers have been trained to use distance learning ? how many students understand this new form teaching? wasted summer of not learning, instructing and perfecting this way to teach and reach our students. Disgraceful
Bad idea
GOP and the Trump campaign team need recycling or purge. So far they have been a bunch of useless people. They don't know how to contain Nancy El Chapo Pelosi and Barack Muslim Sharia Obama. Get real! America's fate is at stake!
Yes and whos fault is that? It is Trumps. He did not give nation wide masks, stay at home , social distance orders. He said let the states decide. Some gave those orders some did not so the virus spread. Other countries R opening U.S. is spreading virus. Trump/GOP destroyed U.S.
The ultimate question is: Are school children essential workers?
The trading floor on Wall Street, to limit Covid-19 transmission risk, barred its members from using public transportation. Are their kids going back to physical school? No way. That danger will only be forced upon those who must go to work or go hungry and become homeless.
Stop blaming schools for not being able to do the impossible. We’re in a pandemic. IF our gov had taken it seriously in January, prepared/provided guidance maybe we would have less spread. You can’t open schools under these circumstances even with every precaution, too dangerous.
Impossible Or just harder? Jesus Christ man. It’s fucking math and reading.
It looks like “Day Care” is 1 underlying theme of this article because these same adults face these challenges today with no school.
Students, teachers, admins dying will make it impossible for millions of parents to work. The school situation amcan be over some with ingenuity and cooperation between parents and educators.
And THAT is the point! Follow the science and send the kids to school.
isn't that the ultimate goal?
Until people feel safe the economy won’t recover. Simple as that.
Schools adopting online or even hybrid models will make it impossible for millions of parents to work. No sh*t Sherlock. That's the purpose behind it.
just let everyone be tested — simple!
When did public schools become glorified daycare centers for working parents?
We already have to get shots and physicals to go to school, why can't everyone in the household get COVID tested and require it be turned into the school? Anyone in your house positive, then you have to remote learn. If everyone is neg, return to school but keep masks on.
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