Four years post-pandemic, The New York Times has begrudgingly exposed the catastrophic effects of prolonged school lockdowns—a truth we’ve been decrying while being labeled as outcasts by the very architects of this disaster: teacher unions, Democratic hardliners, and their media allies. The damage, as we predicted, is profound, echoing through a generation’s education.
The narrative has shifted dramatically from when these policies were fiercely defended by the left, branding any dissent as dangerous and “anti-science.” Now, the data is irrefutable, showcasing the devastating academic and developmental setbacks inflicted on our children—setbacks conveniently traced back to Democrat-endorsed policies.
This reluctant admission by The New York Times reveals an uncomfortable truth: schools in Republican-led or rural regions, which reopened by fall 2020, far outperformed their Democrat-controlled, urban counterparts, debunking the myth that extended closures were in the best interest of public health. Instead, these decisions have left indelible scars, underscoring the folly of placing our children’s futures in the hands of so-called public health “experts” and bureaucrats like Dr. Anthony Fauci and the CDC, whose guidance fueled lockdown hysteria and led to disastrous outcomes.
The real casualties of this debacle are the students, particularly those from third to eighth grades, who’ve seen their math scores nosedive and behavioral issues spike, with absenteeism becoming rampant. This ironic twist of fate highlights the hypocrisy of the left’s “antiracist” stance, as these policies disproportionately harmed predominantly Black and Hispanic schools.
The grim reality is that students who fell behind during the lockdowns have yet to catch up, with those from districts that adhered longest to remote or hybrid models suffering the most. And for what gain? Experts now concede that school closures did little to curb the spread of COVID, leaving us with a stark lesson about the perils of yielding to an ideologically charged, disconnected elite and the corrosive influence of teacher unions.
Our children have borne the brunt of this folly, suffering losses that continue to impact them long after the lockdowns have ended. This episode isn’t merely about the pitfalls of remote learning; it’s a cautionary tale highlighting the catastrophic consequences of entrusting our education system to those driven more by political ideology than by concern for our children’s well-being. As we pick up the pieces, this will stand as a somber reminder of one of the most flagrant policy blunders in our recent history.
