Following the Science?

For how long and how many times have we heard the liberals decry, “We have to follow the Science?”

Well, apparently, “following the Science” is only a popular liberal catch phrase which is trotted out when it suits their intentions and their politics.

Democrats (blue state governors in particular) have used the China virus as a means to impose a wide range of impositions on our Constitutional freedoms in the name of safety.  

Some based on “following the Science,” and some not so much.  

Usually only when it was politically convenient.

Dr. Richard Besser, for Fox News, says that, “Despite coronavirus, science is NOT telling us to close schools.”

But how could that be?!

We MUST “follow the Science,” right?!

“Sound science, like the coronavirus itself, is apolitical. Most everything else this year — including decisions on whether to close schools — is not.”

I think if we’ve learned anything these last four years, it’s that nothing is apolitical anymore.

Nothing.

“As the pandemic enters its deadliest phase to date, government leaders and school districts are having to make extraordinarily difficult decisions about whether to continue in-person learning amid record communitywide surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.”

Excuse me, but these aren’t “extraordinarily difficult decisions” at all.

The Teachers’ Union has made those decisions for our illustrious political “leaders.”  

“New York City’s decision to close schools indefinitely, and the decision in my home state of New Jersey to allow school districts to keep them open, offers a stark contrast in how the two states with the highest death rates for COVID-19 are managing this crisis.”

“As a pediatrician and a parent, I understand the fear, confusion, and even anger that parents and caregivers face today as policymakers grapple with school decisions.”

Can’t you just envision those policymakers “grappling” with those school decisions into the wee hours of the morning?!

“We know that being in the classroom benefits children socially, emotionally and academically.”

Oh, yeah…, so, what’s the problem?

Isn’t it all about the kids?

Of course it’s not.

Huge numbers of these kids have been thrown out with the trash by these supposed caring liberals.

Many of these kids depend on school for at least one or two decent meals each day.

“On the other hand, virtual learning can be a sound option — and when transmission rates rise to unsafe levels, a necessary one — if a student has a computer, a good Internet connection, a quiet workspace, and no special learning needs. For millions of families without these luxuries, however, it’s an unworkable burden and educational disadvantage that many children could bear for a lifetime.”

Ya…, “It’s an unworkable burden and educational disadvantage that many children could bear for a lifetime,” but it’s a sacrifice the liberals and the Teachers’ unions are willing to bear for them on their behalf.  

“From a health perspective, it appears that most children fare well if infected, but they can still spread the coronavirus to higher-risk people in their homes, communities and yes, schools. But when schools have the necessary resources and follow strict protocols, in-person learning has worked remarkably well without accelerating community spread.”

Not according to the teachers, apparently.

“Knowing this, we should do all we can to keep kids in school by providing the funds for proper staffing, equipment, protective gear and ventilation systems. Without these supports, we cannot expect schools to remain open.”

Ok, there we go…, we just need to provide more funding.

We should all know by now that it’s always about the money.

The current CDC Director, Robert R. Redfield, says, “Schools are among the safest places kids can be.”

I guess he isn’t considered to have anything to do with “Science.”

“Achievement gaps could be exacerbated when students are out of school, placing yet another burden on children of color.”

“However, the science and data now tell us a much more nuanced story, and we must adapt as new information arrives. That is the fundamental value of rapid learning during a crisis. With differing approaches, schools have shown that safe in-person learning is possible.”

“That’s why New York City’s decision last week to close schools seems to be a case of following a rigid plan written before we knew schools could remain open safely. The city’s test-positive threshold of 3% — established well before the school year began — has been eclipsed, triggering closures. Yet a mere 0.23% of students in the city’s public schools have tested positive. In fact, New York schools have been a pandemic success story.”

“Governors nationwide are under pressure to follow New York’s lead and close schools, no matter what the data shows. With nearly 200,000 cases a day being reported in the U.S., some of those cases will undoubtedly be teachers, students and staff.”

Why would governors nationwide be under any kind of pressure to follow New York’s lead?

The state of New York, New York City, Governor Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio have the worst COVID record of any state in the nation.

So, “the Pressure” is on other governors to follow their political lead, not their successful dealing with the virus lead.

Just so we’re clear about that.  

“However, decisions on school closures should be driven by data on transmission linked to schools and not on anecdotes or outdated metrics. Public pressure, I fear, is going to make it increasingly difficult in the weeks ahead for governors to stick to the science-based guidance on school closures.”

“Science-based guidance?”

And “public pressure” has no effect on these slimy democrats anymore.

Their friends, the fake news, liberal propaganda, media will just ignore and spin “the pressure” whichever way they want.   

“In the spring, New Jersey was among the hardest hit per capita by COVID-19, with the nation’s highest death rate. But this fall, New Jersey schools have not been the problem. The state’s governor, Phil Murphy, issued a joint statement with six other Northeast governors last week that said in part: ‘In-person learning is the best possible scenario for children, especially those with special needs and from low-income families.’”

“That’s the crux of why we need to do all we can to keep children in schools. The pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black, Latino and Native American communities with dramatically higher rates of infections, hospitalizations and deaths.”

Where is Black Lives Matter on this issue?

Where are any of the democrats on this issue?

Oh, I forgot…, the election is over, so the democrats can go back to ignoring any of the issues affecting the Black, Latino and Native American communities. 

Just sayin’.  

“Because of the inequitable way schools are funded in much of America, (And whose fault is that?) achievement gaps could be exacerbated when students are out of school, placing yet another burden on children of color at the very moment when our nation is forging a new path forward based on racial equity and justice.”

“We know, too, that education is just one facet of what our schools provide. Many families — especially those with parents working full-time, one-parent households, and low-income households — also rely on schools for healthy meals, technology support, and before- and after-hours child care.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the perversion of our national priorities. We need to treat teachers and school staff like the indispensable front-line workers they are and support them as such.”

I think we are, aren’t we?

The teachers appear to be the ones who aren’t comfortable being front-line workers.

Yes, “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the perversion of our national priorities,” but the “perversions” are much more far reaching than the good doctor understands, or is willing to acknowledge.

“At the same time, we must reject the false choice that we either sacrifice teachers or do harm to our children. In the next critical months, we must come together and follow the science so that the greatest public health crisis in a century doesn’t also become an educational crisis.”

Uh…, the “educational crisis” is already here, and has been here for quite a while already.

Dr. Richard Besser, a pediatrician, is president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, America’s largest health philanthropy, based in Princeton, N.J. He serves on the New Jersey Restart and Recovery Commission. He was acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. Follow him on Twitter: @DrRichBesserio 

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