Hello from pandemic year 3!

There seems to be a panic over school closures—and a backlash against teachers and their unions. But how many US public schools have had to “go remote” because of Covid? Are these physical closures reasonable? Why are people blaming educators for everything from “learning loss” to the downfall of the Democratic party? What “shock doctrine” tactics do we need to look out for?

Check out:

* Jay in The New York Times, on the value of public schools and a post-Hurricane Katrina cautionary tale

* A common, cynical take in The Atlantic

* Arguments for parent-teacher solidarity in The New Yorker and Jacobin

* An explainer on the teacher shortage and our stingy approach to public K–12 education, at Vox

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