There’s a dead comment by oldpersonintx which is a bit negative. I can’t comment on it but I want to reiterate the argument with more positivity because I believe there is a kernel of truth.

At least part of the decline of US education has been caused by pandering to unions. As a specific example teachers unions were against in-person learning during COVID even when parents were actively observing bad outcomes for their children.

In the interest of improving education the Democratic Party partnered with teachers decades ago. There were real improvements during this period. More recently though I believe the party has become captured by teachers more than accountable for outcomes.

Teachers know the most here and they deserve to be a big voice, but they aren’t the only voice. Frankly parents also aren’t the be-all-end-all here. I believe the best way to improve outcomes would be more cooperation between both groups instead of devolving into us-vs-then dynamics.

It was also everyone’s first global pandemic emergency so we can cut teachers some slack for not wanting to die for 40k USD. When schools go without funding and we’re devoid of regulation in industries like tech, and the cost of basics like a good school and healthy food becoming unaffordable for many parents, I feel like we have plenty of reasons to explore before we blame the people doing gods work for peanuts.

>As a specific example teachers unions were against in-person learning during COVID even when parents were actively observing bad outcomes for their children.

Schools were accelerants of COVID propagations. Kids are contagious, like with every other infectious disease. COVID infections cause statistically significant intellectual decline.

It also kills teachers.