Is It Really “Just an Election?”
When I’d imagined senior year, I hadn’t imagined myself sitting in my room staring at my laptop screen for seven hours a day. I pictured myself singing alongside my choir at our homecoming pep rally, running across the football field with my peers and picking a dress for prom. I had anticipated the stress of applying to college while juggling a social life, extracurriculars and time for myself. However, I hadn’t anticipated the pandemic that has left our country vulnerable.
While I am definitely not a fan of remote learning, I recognize its necessity. Illinois is one of the states that has been hit hardest by the pandemic thus far, ranking fifth amongst the fifty states. Chicago has especially been impacted by the pandemic, with its large population increasing the odds of transmission.
Within my own district of Chicago Public Schools — one of the largest school districts in the nation — 258 cases were reported during the first six months of quarantine. Though the hopes of many are riding on the effectiveness of social distancing and our current precautionary measures, the future of education in our country is uncertain.
To reopen or not to reopen?
The most pressing issue at the moment centers around how rapidly we should attempt to reopen our country. Trump has fervently expressed his desire to return to normalcy as soon as possible, a pressure he continues to exert on the Department of Education.
Though the number of cases is increasing, our current president remains set on reopening our schools despite the risks it poses to students. In support of his plans, Trump described a conversation he’d previously had with the governor of New Jersey, stating “one person out of thousands of people — one person died, who was under 18 years old. So that’s a pretty amazing stat when you think of it.”
What is amazing about someone losing a child? If there is any chance that students could possibly be exposed to the virus or die, shouldn’t we be more concerned?
There may have “only” been one student who died, but as our president, it should be his priority to ensure that other families do not have to experience such a loss or worry their child may die simply from going to school.
My school district has around 355,000 students and is made up of 642 schools, some of which have a larger population. For example, Lane Tech College Prep High School, located on the north side of Chicago, has around 4,500 students.
My own school, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, is half the size, yet I still feel uneasy at the prospect of returning to the building so quickly. Many of the students at my school rely on public transportation to get there, as we are all scattered around the city; this increases the risk of exposure, as being in contact with so many people may lead to increased chances of catching the virus.
Biden, thankfully, has been reluctant to reopen our nation until we have further developed a vaccine. Biden’s nationwide reopening plan includes seven phases, and he has come up with a five-step plan to reopen our schools safely. His “five-step roadmap” includes plans to double the number of drive-through testing sites, meet emergency funding needs of schools and ensure that all students have access to high-quality remote learning, including students with disabilities and English language learners.
Even beyond the pandemic, Biden has made his commitment to bettering education apparent.
One of his priorities includes tripling the funding for Title I, the largest federally funded educational program, and increasing funding for low-income areas.
76.4% of Chicago Public Schools students are considered underprivileged, so Biden’s policies will help us close the achievement gap and allocate more resources to underprivileged students. This increase in funding is necessary. The funding allocated to schools is tied to property taxes in the neighboring area, inherently putting schools in underprivileged areas at a disadvantage since they are typically located in areas where the homes have lower values. Biden’s policies will counter this with federal aid, which can be used to provide updated curriculum and textbooks, food for students, technological devices and create programs to cater to students’ needs.
These resources will result in long-term benefits, increasing the student retention rate, ensuring that students have the resources they need to stay on track academically and decreasing the achievement gap as a result.
These policies stand in stark contrast to Trump’s deprioritization of education. In the 2020 fiscal year, he decreased the budget for education by 7.8%, or $5.6 billion. Biden’s election stands as a marked shift towards the support of public education.
The diverse population of students that make up Chicago Public Schools presents us with a kaleidoscope of different experiences and needs. A future where every student in Chicago is able to receive a fair education regardless of their socioeconomic background is one we should all strive to make a reality, one which Biden’s election furthers.
