Pass/Fail

As schools consider operations for the school year ahead, the question that should be before us is not if students pass or fail; it’s more about. . .

1. If schools pass or fail in keeping their students healthy: are school districts really capable of doing so? And. . .
2. Whether society passes or fails in assuring all students everywhere have at-home access to high speed internet and the tools to use it: does our country have the will to deliver what in a fair and first-rate nation of the modern world must be a universally available utility?

As to #1, the experience of schools in states with early opening dates — Georgia and Indiana, for example — suggests that an affirmative response is doubtful. COVID outbreaks are almost certain.

As to #2, high speed internet as a basic service of a civilized society has been considered for many years as a nice notion. . .maybe something we should do when we can get around to it.  But in the panic of the current pandemic, we now know high speed internet access is necessary for equal opportunity to both learning and earning.

The United States ranks an embarrassing 70th in the world in terms of internet access, with just under three-quarters of the nation’s population having internet access, however very slow it may be in many places. For perspective, our nation trails far behind our northern neighbor Canada, which ranks only 24th in the world but has nearly 93% of its population with internet access.

This pandemic has exposed many weaknesses in America, perhaps none more than testing, tracing and technology. . .as well as the lack of a health care safety net for people who lose their employment. . .and, of course, a lack of coherent leadership.

JER