School closed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
(virus picture from here (en.wikipedia.org))

It is awkward to advocate for reopening the public schools. Why? Parents have lost control of their children’s education, a column by Everett Piper, explains.  Here is how it begins.

Ever wonder how we got to this point? How did a nation that defined itself with the superlatives, “land of the free and the home of the brave,” “America the Beautiful“ and “one nation under God” turn into a broken culture with no boundaries, no borders, no law, no order and no soul so fast?

How did we lurch from being the United States into a divided people so quickly?

Where did this all come from: the vitriol and vice, the anger and hatred, the looting, the riots, the destruction, the nihilistic confusion, the science-denying gender-bending sexuality, the suicidal infatuation with socialism, the adolescent whining for safety rather than freedom?

How in the world did these demons possess our national body politic in what seems to be just the blink of an eye?

The answer may be closer than you think. It might be right there at your kitchen table or on the couch right beside you. Just look over your son’s or daughter’s shoulder, and you might find the answer. (continued here (washingtontimes.com))

If your son or daughter is attending school online, you can watch and listen, and some of the people who run our public schools would much rather you did not. Unfortunately, we cannot reform our educational system easily or quickly.  We can only be a bit thankful that the COVID-19 pandemic is revealing something about the character of the people who run our public school system. Now we know we have a big problem.

Consider how weird this is.

After the Fairfax County Public Schools said the district would reopen with 100% virtual learning, the county unveiled Supporting Return to School, a program of “active and engaged learning during the FCPS virtual academic day” held at 37 school buildings.

The district said that a “sliding fee scale will be available for income-eligible families,” with monthly fees ranging from $80 to $1,472 per child, according to the county website.

District spokesperson Lucy Caldwell said in an email that “FCPS is not offering child care,” calling SRS “a program that aims to serve vulnerable students,” while county spokesperson Amanda Rogers said that students would be limited to 10 per classroom. (continued here (washingtontimes.com))

There is some question about whether the Supporting Return to School program is constitutional. The Virginia Constitution is unambiguous.

Article VIII. Education
Section 1. Public schools of high quality to be maintained
The General Assembly shall provide for a system of free public elementary and secondary schools for all children of school age throughout the Commonwealth, and shall seek to ensure that an educational program of high quality is established and continually maintained. (from here (law.lis.virginia.gov))

We pay through the nose in taxes for “free” schools. If Fairfax County is charging parents, then the education the county is providing is not free. Of course, there is also another issue. If the Supporting Return to School program is safe, then why are the schools still completely closed for the rest of the children?

How does this affect Prince William County Schools? Will we copy Fairfax County?

Additional References

• Fairfax County’s New “Supporting Return to School” (SRS) Program Bolsters Virtual Learning (fairfaxtimes.com)
• Fauquier County Schools Switching to Virtual-Only Learning for Fall (nbcwashington.com)
• Supporting Return to School (SRS) Program (fairfaxcounty.gov)
• Shuttered schools new gambit: charging desperate parents to provide pandemic daycare (justthenews.com)
• Why Are Child Care Programs Open When Schools Are Not? (nytimes.com)