The Teachers Unions Are Hurting Our Most Vulernable Children – Opinion

Now it’s a known fact that closing schools does more harm than good. This is evident in the increased test scores and suicide rates as well as mental health problems. We also have more warning signs. New York TimesAccording to Democrats. The Democrats know long-term closures can adversely impact our children. This is why the Chicago unions and others pushing for distance learning do all they can to ensure that children don’t go to schools.

Although it is vital that all children are healthy academically, socially, and mentally, students with special needs suffer most.

Students on the autism spectrum and students with special needs are left out. There is no class and no support at home for students. While no one knows their child and his or her needs better than their parents, and the parents can provide some support at home, there are very talented, very well trained professionals at school who have dedicated their lives to helping these students get the most out of an education system that is built for the average, everyday kid – not the kid with exceptionalities.

These professionals, and services provided by a school district can sometimes be the difference between students with special needs and being left behind.

This isn’t just about coursework, either. Sometimes, school is the only location where a child can acquire social cues, learn human interaction and develop healthy emotions. I’ve written about this before, but it’s especially true for these students. To develop emotionally and socially, you need to interact with people outside your family. Many students have additional needs and school provides a safe environment for them to learn and grow.

For example, students on the autism spectrum may have a difficult time understanding this. Children with visual or hearing impairments, such as children who are blind, may have difficulty understanding the meaning of certain words. Then, there are professionals in speech development who can offer the training students need to overcome speech barriers – training that parents may struggle to teach or may not have time to give in the midst of everything else that is part of parenting.

You have probably never seen these kids in school. What you don’t know is the sheer determination and struggle they go through. They fight, at times much harder than anyone will ever truly know, and when they find their success and achieve their goals it is one of the best moments you can witness in a child’s life.

Unions want to shut down schools. They ignore the facts. They challenge the data. These are people who are fine with kids learning remotely or not learning at all (and, oftentimes, there isn’t much difference) because teaching while people are getting sick is just such a hassle.

Virtual/remote learning does not constitute an education program. This is a temporary solution, which can be applied school by school. This isn’t something schools should adopt or unions need to advocate for. This is a direct harm to our children. While some may be able to handle the situation in the long term, it can cause serious emotional and physical pain for our most vulnerable students. This is unacceptable in a profession meant to serve these children.