Back To School No-Sell

Back to School Sale

Retailers historically look forward to selling clothing, notebooks, pens, and pencils during August. Children look forward to receiving new outfits that keep up with new trends and fit as they grow.

The traditional back-to-school sale has become the art of “selling” the nostalgia of resuming education to parents and children. It is less about shoes and pencils.

ClinicalPosters has educational materials, like the Anatomy & Physiology Coloring Book, but is not marketing a “Back to School Sale.” Education-minded readers also enjoy the Chambers Kids miniseries. Perhaps you will too.

Educational Hazzard

The three words, “back to school,” are stimulating angst and dissension in the year 2021. It is reminiscent of the desegregation laws from 1954 to 1999. The bussing then led to protests, police altercations, court battles, white flight, and private school proliferation. The children and grandchildren of that generation have inherited the vitriolic opposition.

Today, the battle is not over race or physically relocating students. The protests are against vaccinations and mask-wearing. In 2020, before available vaccines, the pandemic debate was between physical and virtual classrooms. Technology companies earned huge profits as a result.

Viral Education

Colleges and universities are modifying admission requirements since homeschooling and virtual classes may harm SBAC, ACT, and SAT scores. Some institutions are relying on complete high school transcripts. Of course, the higher education institutions need students. But full enrollment requires precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Will parents and students comply with guidelines for admission into classrooms? Partly fueled by the lack of safe classroom options, we read more headlines: “Parent’s angry school meeting rant at Covid closures goes viral — Independent,” “Why are some parents so angry about masks in schools?—al.com,” and “Angry, unmasked parents crowd Louisiana education hearing—APNews.”

Even if parents want to comply with child vaccinations (many do not), Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine has been fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration only for children aged 16 and older.

Emergency use authorization extends down to age 12. Ages 6–11 may not receive authorization until year-end. The notion that childhood coronavirus infections are not serious is contributing to a rise in cases.

Pause for a moment and consider the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA). Educators meet with parents to receive cohesive cooperation. Part of the goal is to unify education. Whether in the classroom or via telecommuting, we hope children going back to school will be peaceful.