We are failing our children

Those of you who know me are aware that I am a data junkie. I study to look for patterns. Patterns can reveal where we started from and allow us to map a pathway forward. Many times the data and statistics surprise us. Sometimes it validates us. What I find intriguing is that with data and statistics, it is what is hidden or concealed that is equally as important as what is being told.

Remember what we were told in March? We need to take a few weeks to a month to "flatten the curve" so we didn't overwhelm the healthcare system. Now it's moved to redefining what "safe" is. The Governor's new definition changes by the hour and is a far cry from the scope of his initial Emergency Orders. It certainly isn't being enforced consistently. I mean really, is a mask and 6 feet is safe? A few observations from Meck Board of Education Member Sean Strain's Facebook Page:

• "Safe for distanced restaurant service

• Safe for faith services

• Safe for organized athletics

• Safe for in-school instruction

• Safe for bars

• Safe for gyms"

Let’s take a look at what is happening in Meck County regarding school openings. Note that all this info is coming from the Meck County Health Dept. Both the Schools and the County are using the same data set, but are drawing different conclusions.

Meck BOCC has said given the data from the Meck County Health Department, its ok to open parks. However, school facilities remain closed.

Two elected bodies, controlled by Democrats, using the same information provided by the County Health Department, making two different decisions.

If we assume a very aggressive asymptomatic infection rate you may get to 1 per hundred positive infections. Right now it's tracking at .2%. We know children have an even lower infection rate. Did you know that only 3 deaths in the state are under the age of 25? And yet we close schools. This is the most inequitable decision made by the School Board in decades. We are leaving the most vulnerable and at-risk behind. Failure is unacceptable, yet we are running towards a losing proposition. If we are going to make a fundamental change in Education, we have to declare that failure is no option. For generations, our schools worked because as a society, we insisted on it. We refused to accept failure. We can not accept it now.

True preparation for real-life: the skills and experience to think critically, communicate effectively, and accomplish real-world achievements occur in K-12 education. If you believe as I do, that a good basic education is the best way to change your condition and to reach higher rungs on the economic ladder; If you believe that education is key to transforming from dependence to independence; If you believe that education is key to economic growth and prosperity; If you understand the interdependence between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom. This should horrify you.

We are failing our children.

Just take a look at the data.