Letter: What have we learned about edu19cation from COVID-9?

The recent Department of Education report about the huge decline in math and reading skills among students of color is disheartening, but not unexpected. COVID is the primary cause, concludes the study.

We need to learn from this to avoid repeating the biggest education errors during the next public health crisis.

What have we learned from this mess?

1) Remote learning is a myth for most, especially those with home surroundings not conducive to learning. Closing schools was a disaster, for which the children and society at large will now pay dearly. It is insidious racism to close the schools. Most Catholic and private schools managed to stay open and avoid large-scale COVID breakouts. It has been done successfully and can be again.

2) Teacher union leadership needs to return to professionalism. Doctors, nurses and other essential workers did not run away but chose to carry on. Some paid the ultimate price, but they also showed us what valor and principled leadership look like. Teacher union leadership needs to put students first (see No. 1).

3) Teachers need to undo the damage of remote learning, especially as it related to personal accountability. There are assignments to be submitted on time, deadlines to be kept and quality of work to be maintained. Otherwise, you have taught our children that you don't need to do your work, deadlines don't matter and any ol' work product is OK. Quality standards and deadlines are crucial to success in later life.

We need the highest standards in our schools. If COVID is to have a silver lining for education, it is what we can learn from it.

Maureen McAllister

Wayne