This concept of learning loss is a red herring. Children adapt, they learn regardless, they just might not be learning what is on the test, but they might have forgotten most of the info a year later, while we are still in a global pandemic.
Alfie Kohn has been writing and speaking about education, human behavior and parenting for more than two decades. His most recent book was “Schooling Beyond Measure and Other Unorthodox Essays About Education,”This article originally appeared in the Boston Globe on September 6, 2020. It, along with much of Kohn’s other work, is also available on his website, www.alfiekohn.org.”
Anguish and even anger are entirely appropriate reactions to the fact that coronavirus infection rates are still too high in most areas to permit the safe reopening of schools. Not only do many of our kids miss their friends and the chance to make new ones, but school attendance also is a prerequisite for millions of parents to go to work. Also, schools provide healthy meals, which matters in a country with appalling levels of poverty and hunger.
The shutdown is bad enough. Must we also deal with the fear…
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Educating Human Potential 