Back to school won’t mean back to normal

This economy won’t reopen until schools reopen, full stop.

So how are we doing on that? More than half of schools teaching up to eighth grade have reopened for in-person instruction, and a large majority of teachers and other relevant workers are vaccinated. But most students are still learning at least partly online and, of course, it’s nearly summer break. No one seems to know what fall will bring.

“It’s from coast to coast, top to bottom of the country, there’s uncertainty everywhere,” said Valerie Strauss, a Washington Post education reporter.

On today’s show, Strauss will walk us through the public health thinking around schools, where teachers unions can fit in and what parents can expect for their kids this fall. The upshot? Things won’t be normal right away, Strauss said. You can expect more hybrid classrooms.

But this long experiment in remote school and the “new normal” that comes after could hold exciting opportunities, Strauss said. Schools could eventually give students and parents more control over how and when learning happens.

“If there’s one thing people agree on is that virtual for most kids was not sufficient, and in many cases was an utter disaster,” Strauss said. “The human tendency is usually to fall back on what you know, but it could be that this could start something where there’s more individual agency about a school day.”

Later on, we’ll hear from a listener who feels like she’s the only one missing the office and another who’s grateful for the break in paying off student loans. Plus, we’ll bring it back full circle as a teacher answers the Make Me Smart Question.

When you’re done listening, tell your Echo device to “make me smart” for our daily explainers. This week we’re explaining the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, “The Simpsons” and prom. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter! You can find the latest issue here.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• Read all of Strauss’ work in The Washington Post here
• “Google Plans to Double AI Ethics Research Staff” from The Wall Street Journal
• “Gas prices jump, fuel shortages reported as Colonial Pipeline works to restore operations” from The Washington Post
• “FCC approves $7B broadband connectivity fund” from CNET
• “Credit-Card Debt Keeps Falling. Banks Are On Edge.” from The Wall Street Journal

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