Bert Dirschell
Centertown
Dear Editor:
For those concerned about schools reopening I found the article at the following site informative: www.factcheck.org/2020/07/what-science-says-about-children-covid-19-and-school-reopenings/
In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has stated, "With the above principles (principles stated earlier in their paper) in mind, the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020. Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation. This, in turn, places children and adolescents at considerable risk of morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. Beyond the educational impact and social impact of school closures, there has been substantial impact on food security and physical activity for children and families."
When I consider the above comments it seems that an ever-increasing number of children are being born and reared in abusive situations, and government seems hell-bent on taking over all parental responsibilities (feeding, providing health care, etc.) via the school system. Government's response, and the response of many in society, to the problem is not only acceptance, but ever-increasing rewards for those who engage in activities that lead to the production of children those engaged in the activities either can't, or won't, support, emotionally and/or financially.
Fifty years ago the federal government (Medicaid) paid for virtually no births. In 2018 Medicaid, the American taxpayer, paid for 43.3 percent of all births in our nation. In 2015, 42 percent of U.S. non-immigrant births were to unwed mothers (30 percent of white births and 77 percent of Black births).
No one wants children to go hungry, but someone who is doling out our tax dollars should be questioning why, after more than 50 years of ever-increasing government intervention, the problem only grows worse. It should be obvious to anyone that doing more of the same is not the solution. Rewarding misbehaving children with more candy seldom solved a problem.