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We should all recognize how quintessentially American these emerging homeschooling "pods" are. I hope journalists and academics appreciate what's going on.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/07/public-schools-on-pause/?taid=5f1a334520fc0a0001aad485&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
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https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/07/public-schools-on-pause/?taid=5f1a334520fc0a0001aad485&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
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Tens of millions of families have been relying--for generations--on a longstanding local institution (the traditional school district and its residence-based schools). In many ways, families built their lives around the rhythms and routines of these schools and districts.
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Consider how many families built their work schedules, childcare, play dates, tutoring, volunteering, and so much more around these schools.
And then the pandemic and lockdown through ALL of that into turmoil.
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And then the pandemic and lockdown through ALL of that into turmoil.
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My point here is NOT to criticize schools or districts. There are countless teachers and administrators who love students and want to do right by their families. But these highly unusual health conditions brought about legal issues, safety issues, and more.
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In many cases districts decided they can't open up in Sept as usual. So tens of millions of families are left in an unenviable position. Adults need to work. Kids need to learn, and need socialization and supervision. Routines are needed.
Families need to figure this out.
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Families need to figure this out.
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There is NO playbook for families on what to do if they decide full-time online isn'r right for them or if part-time online creates too many complicates.
There are guidelines from Washington & state capitals on what schools/districts should do. But what about families?
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There are guidelines from Washington & state capitals on what schools/districts should do. But what about families?
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There is no top-down, national plan for families who somehow gotta make this work.
So Americans are starting to do what they do.
They figure it out.
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So Americans are starting to do what they do.
They figure it out.
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With families self-organizing into homeschooling pods, we're seeing, first, the same impulse that led to the first public schools more than a century and a half ago. A group of families organize to get a new institution up and running.
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This is also classic Tocqueville. Americans aren't just sitting around waiting for a government leader to come on the scene and fix it. No. Families and community leaders are coming together in civil society to do the modern equivalent of barn-raising. Just getting it done.
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This is also a great example of spontaneous order. Without central direction, communities in countless locations are going to rely on different priorities and practices to create different strategies. Then they will adapt them over time, constantly trying to improve.
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Most families didn't want this thrown in their laps, but they are trying to handle it as best as they can. Their energy, creativity, cooperation, and community-spiritedness should be applauded.
And so then we get to the question of money.
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And so then we get to the question of money.
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As in most crises--educational and otherwise--disadvantaged families can be most vulnerable. They can lack various resources and face obstacles that make their adaptation more difficult.
But that should NOT compel us to stop the civil-society, spontaneous activity underway.
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But that should NOT compel us to stop the civil-society, spontaneous activity underway.
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My take is
1( Recognize that disadvantaged families might need help.
2) Don't demonize families that are figuring it out--they love their kids and they're doing their best
3) Help struggling families figure this out.
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1( Recognize that disadvantaged families might need help.
2) Don't demonize families that are figuring it out--they love their kids and they're doing their best
3) Help struggling families figure this out.
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In some cases, districts should develop their own "pod" strategies that help underserved families. Maybe school space is made available. Maybe certified teachers can be paid with Title I funds.
Maybe schools can help disadvantaged students find organically emerging pods.
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Maybe schools can help disadvantaged students find organically emerging pods.
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Maybe Uncle Sam, states, and districts can allow families to convert per-pupil dollars that would otherwise go directly to schools into personalized accounts, so these families have dollars to pay for pod materials, pod instructors, etc.
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OK enough from me.
My overarching point is unfortunately we're inclined during these tough times to find the bad-news angle in every story.
But what we're seeing so far is a ground-up, dynamic, communitarian response to a terribly tough situation.
Let's celebrate that.
/end
My overarching point is unfortunately we're inclined during these tough times to find the bad-news angle in every story.
But what we're seeing so far is a ground-up, dynamic, communitarian response to a terribly tough situation.
Let's celebrate that.
/end
