The Sunday Read: Public schools' response to pandemic is proof parents need more options | National | thecentersquare.com

Advocates for school choice meet at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfurt, Kentucky on Monday, January 27, 2020. They support legislation to provide tax credits to private school houses for those who provide scholarships for children with special needs or low incomes.

Issuer

(Central Plaza)-The national response to COVID-19 has exposed weaknesses in all aspects of society.

The crisis is like that. The crisis exposed weaknesses. The crisis shows that the system we trust and rely on is so close to collapse.

But it can be said that the biggest vulnerability of all these can be seen through the collapse of our public schools in the past year. Our children are suffering many unfathomable sufferings.

With the end of "School Choice Week", let us pause for a moment and consider how bad the current situation is for parents who choose to maximize the value of their school taxes and use public services.

Ohio was the first state to forcibly close schools on March 12. Within a day, 15 other states also forced schools to close. For a long time, teachers’ unions have attached importance to maintaining membership and loyalty, but value service time in terms of talent and student performance. Therefore, they tend to frighten mainstream media and require the state government to shut down any available science and data. It's closed.

In Illinois, where my child is studying, since mid-March 2020, most local students have been outside the classroom.

Friday is the first day my youngest child is allowed to return to class. This is the third time she has attended class since the school closed in March. She is eight years old

She spent most of the 10 months trying to learn through Zoom. This is painful for her and everyone around her. She told me that she felt she had failed because she could not keep the engagement. The teacher who expects the dedication commensurate with her personal learning has corrected her in front of her peers. Sorry to turn it off. Said she didn't like school. Again, she is 8.

According to the clinical diagnosis, she has special needs. For her and children like her, spending a few hours in front of a computer screen is the worst-case scenario. But this is the only option available.

Private schools in our area are full. Since mid-August, they have been carrying out activities according to the 5-day school schedule without any accidents.

For working parents, homeschooling is not a viable option. Therefore, we are trapped, our little girl is trapped in an outdated system that is not great in its original form, and has now been repackaged into virtual delivery, and is managed by someone with zero experience in distance learning Human to operate.

Forget the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics on children and screening time before the pandemic: "Relevant research shows that children aged 8 to 11 who exceed the recommended screening time score lower in cognitive assessment and meet the recommendations explaining the following One fifth of the overall difference in knowledge scores (

). In the same age group, screening time and lack of sleep are also associated with increased impulsivity (

). "

At the same time, private schools are operating normally or with only a few changes throughout the country, and are operating in accordance with the guidelines of the local health department without any accidents.

You are not reading stories about large-scale outbreaks in private schools, because they did not happen. The teachers and students in these schools are not dying. This fact is largely unreported because it does not correspond to the frightening message of unionization that governs the public education machinery.

Americans deserve better treatment, so we choose how to educate our children with our taxes to promote public education. Not all children are the same. My child is more important than yours. But our children are all different and need customized solutions. The public education system in the United States is outdated and operates according to the agricultural calendar, making important contributions to children who are lagging behind the world.

No offense, but before the pandemic, our educational ability and children's learning ability should not be ranked behind Poland in science, Lithuania or Portugal in mathematics. You can only imagine our ranking next year.

We need more charter schools, and these charter schools actually have to consider results before they can continue to operate. We need magnet schools that can offer specialized courses. We need more control over how taxes are allocated to education in order to achieve the specific purpose of allowing the free market to improve the education system, rather than protecting and maintaining the harsh methods of educating children through the only public choice provided by our generations. . .

If now is not considering how we can improve the accurate time of education, then there will be no more.

Many people across the country celebrate

Last week, as more and more parents were frustrated that they could only do distance learning and were dissatisfied with the performance of public schools, they were embracing the choice of school by simply looking for alternatives.

in

, Private and charter schools are leaders in the national school selection program, and enrollment has increased significantly in the past year. in

, Approximately 10% of the state’s student population attends charter schools. in

, More than 300,000 students in the state take advantage of some type of school choice program, and this number may increase as the law has been signed into legislation by the end of 2020.

, A new opinion poll shows that most residents now support the school choice program. While in

, Has submitted new legislation that will create educational opportunity accounts that can be used in public or private schools across the state.

Elsewhere in the United States...

President Joe Biden signed an executive order last week stating

Drilling for oil and gas on federal land and water is already underway

In the Federal Court. Some western states with large federal land areas, such as Wyoming, rely heavily on taxes generated by oil and gas development. Although the order does not apply to existing federal oil and gas leases, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon called it "a heavy blow to the economies of many Western countries." In 2019, state and local governments received $1.67 billion in revenue from the oil and gas industry.

For months, reporters, Republican officials and even some Democratic lawmakers have been frustrated with Governor Andrew Cuomo's government because they believe they have failed to release accurate numbers of COVID-19 deaths in state-regulated nursing homes. Some observers speculated that the apparent silence came from the early decision to send the infected residents back to their facilities and clean the beds. just now,

It clearly shows that the death toll has actually been underreported by as much as 50%.

Just as every year during his tenure, the Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Wolf

Paying his government’s priorities. As in the past few years, this new push may fail in the face of a Republican-controlled legislature. The legislature is worried that in addition to the impact fees already paid by the drilling industry, this tax will expel ownership for many years. To provide billions of dollars in state and local revenue. The Wolf government firmly believes that the industry can afford additional taxes, and not imposing tariffs is a missed opportunity.

A bill of the New Jersey Assembly will

Highway and bridge construction contracts worth more than $1 million. The initiator of the bill wrote: "At a time when so many companies face unparalleled challenges and an uncertain future, it is vital that we support American industry and skilled workers who produce high-quality products across the country." The State Senate has passed similar bills.

Free Market Buckeye College says the state government needs

And its expenditures. The Institute stated in a new policy summary entitled "Beware of the Shadow Budget: Ohio’s Spending exceeds Many People’s Thoughts" that Ohio’s spending will cost taxpayers more than $153 billion. It is commonly referred to as Ohio. More than double the state budget of 69 billion dollars. The agency’s Greg Lawson wrote: “The suggestion that the Ohio budget is only $69 billion is completely misleading and makes it difficult for voters and taxpayers to accurately assess the size and scope of their government. And cost." "It makes taxpayers ignorant of government spending, which undermines the sense of responsibility to state officials and decision makers."

Indiana on Thursday

Related to COVID-19. The Indiana House Judiciary Committee voted to pass House Bill 1002 sponsored by Congressman R. Fishers to the entire House of Representatives. If the legislation is passed and signed into law, it will provide companies with temporary immunity from litigation because someone claims to have exposed or signed COVID-19 at the company or where the service is provided.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote to the Republican leaders of the convention last week, asking if they would

Regarding legislation, the legislator has passed it, restricting his authorization to emergency orders. The Democratic governor vetoed these bills. However, Republicans who have a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate can veto these veto powers as long as they need a simple majority in both areas. 

A state representative said that data and science show that Governor JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 mitigation measures are

Compared with neighboring countries with less economic constraints, Illinois may have a worse death rate. Illinois Rep. Tony McCombie said that based on the data she reviewed, stricter restrictions in Illinois did not help reduce the state’s COVID-19 mortality rate compared to neighboring countries.

The municipality of Illinois is again wary of the possibility of reducing its commitments

If parliamentarians choose to use tools they have used many times before to help support the national budget. The state collects income tax and other types of income for municipalities and distributes them through local government distribution funds. Until 2011, the local government received 10% of personal and corporate income tax, but the income collected by personal income tax and corporate income tax was reduced to 5.45% and 6% respectively to help the state fill the budget gap of the 2008-2009 economic recession . The two recent increases in income tax have led to a decrease in the proportion of LGDF. Brad Cole, chairman of the Illinois Municipal Union, said: "We have always been concerned about LGDF's share of state income tax." "The General Assembly and the governor can only lay off employees in many places, and we have seen that LGDF is usually At the forefront of the production line, they can lay off employees."

Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled his

Thursday. The expenditure plan requires the state to spend 96.6 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 4.3 billion U.S. dollars from the national budget for fiscal 2021. DeSantis said expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic accounted for $2.6 billion of the proposed increase in expenditures. The governor’s plan proposes to use $33.8 billion for Medicaid, $22.8 billion for K-12 public schools, and $9.47 billion for roads and infrastructure.

The Georgia House of Representatives approved the revised fiscal year (AFY) budget for fiscal 2021 on Thursday.

, Bringing the state budget for this fiscal year to $26.5 billion. Each legislative session will pass two budgets. Members must review and approve spending for the remainder of the current fiscal year, also known as the AFY budget, and approve the budget for the next fiscal year beginning on July 1. The proposed AFY budget is now in the Senate.

Department of Employment Security of North Carolina

In 2020, federal pandemic unemployment compensation including $45 million is overpaid. Agency reports show that NCDES has paid $9.6 billion in unemployment benefits from nine state and federal welfare programs. The agency recovers some of the funds by offsetting benefits and providing repayment plans.

bill

The Commonwealth is working through the Virginia State Senate. The Senate bill of 1165 would abolish the death penalty in Virginia, including those on death row. Previous attempts to abolish the death penalty have failed.

The Tennessee Department of Education has requested the Nashville Metropolitan Public School

In federal funding. Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn (Penny Schwinn) identified "significant issues regarding the use of federal grant funds, withdrawal amounts, and oversight" and gave the school district 15 days to account for any funds spent. Regional spokesperson Sean Braisted told Central Plaza that the area has spent funds in accordance with state and federal laws.

The South Carolina State Senate passed a bill,

In the state, the House of Representatives is expected to follow suit. If the fetal heartbeat can be detected, Senate Bill No. 1 makes abortion a crime unless there is an emergency medical situation, rape, incest, or an abnormal fetus. Before many women realize that they are pregnant, the fetal heartbeat can usually be detected about six weeks after conception.

The proposed tax change for the oil and gas industry in Louisiana is

And opposition from insiders. Louisiana’s oil severance tax-the state's charge for oil extracted from the state-is 12.5%. The rate is higher than any other state outside Alaska and three times the rate for natural gas. Several members said that they wanted to lower the severance payment tax rate, but they did not hope that this would harm the country's finances. The legislative committee discussed a proposal that the state government can cut oil severance taxes, while at the same time earning the same amount of revenue by eliminating tax incentives and equalizing oil and gas taxes.

Governor Greg Abbott signed a copy last week

Trying to protect the state's energy industry from what he calls the federal government overspending. In response to President Biden’s plan to stop leasing federal land to oil and gas development and prohibit the issuance of new permits, Abbott’s order instructs each state agency to use “all legal powers and tools to challenge any threat to continued strength, vitality, and Independence of the energy industry”, according to a statement from the Governor’s Office. According to the order, the instructing agency should determine potential litigation, give notice and comment opportunities, and any other means to prevent the law from going beyond the federal scope.

Churches and other places of worship in California are tired of Govin Newsom state government restrictions that limit the way residents can gather to pray. Thomas More Society, a non-profit public interest law firm fighting for freedom of life, family, and religion, has filed a lawsuit.

of

It is claimed that Newsom’s restrictions are discrimination against faith-based organizations that have been unable to hold indoor worship services for several months during the pandemic, while liquor stores, retail stores, and other businesses and groups can provide indoor worship.

Newsom also faces major challenges

Supported by some outstanding Democrats, a Democratic high-tech billionaire declared that he was

The current governor.

As guns flew off shelves across the United States, Washington state lawmakers set their sights on

Over the past year, gun-related crimes have surged and large-volume magazines have appeared. A bill introduced by the state would ban high-capacity magazines capable of carrying more than 10 rounds of ammunition and impose a fine of up to $5,000 on offenders. The gun shop owner told state legislators at a hearing that stricter gun laws would drive gun owners out of Washington at the expense of local businesses like hers.

Oregonians can go to the gym to watch movies again, but if they go out to eat, they will have to do it outside. Governor Kate Brown released 

Last week, "extreme risk" counties were allowed to open gyms, fitness centers, theaters, museums and other indoor entertainment venues, with a maximum of 6 people per 500 square feet. At the same time, the bars and restaurants on the same floor are still limited to outdoor dining since last fall.

The Colorado Congressional delegation is busy lobbying for Biden's new administration

Colorado Springs and

Headquartered in Grand Junction. The Space Command originally planned to relocate to Hansville, Alabama in the last few days of the Trump administration, which caused political allegations. The Colorado delegation hopes that the decision will be suspended and an investigation will be conducted.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona are asking the newly elected chairman Dr. Kelly Ward how

The election on January 23. Opponents of Ward have formally asked for a re-vote in the annual Republican State Assembly in Mesa on January 23. Ward and other members of the Arizona Republican Party have been one of the most active voices in the United States calling for an audit of the results of the Maricopa County presidential election. 

The Great Huzhou State continues to succumb under the pressure of mandatory government restrictions

with

. After setting a "suspend" for the above categories in the week before Thanksgiving 2020, the governor and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services extended the suspension three times. Although the restaurant will reopen on February 1, the restaurant can only accommodate 25% of the restaurant and can accommodate up to 100 people. High school winter sports will be suspended until at least February 21, which prompted the Michigan House Oversight Committee to hold a hearing on January 28. The testimony stated that vocational and academic sports are not restricted.

Chris Krug brings more than 25 years of award-winning media experience to Central Plaza. He is the former publisher of the "Chicago Herald" newspaper chain, was the vice president of Shaw Suburban Media and the associate editor of the "Denver Post."

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