Education? Clear as mud

"Those who were hoping for a summer where things start returning to normal, need to keep hoping. Things are still far from returning to where they were. So where are we then? We are knee deep in a change that few if any, saw coming."

If you are a parent with school age kids, I feel for you. If you are a young person going to college, ditto what I just said. The status of most schools this upcoming school year is as clear as mud. The Minneapolis School District just announced what they will be doing this upcoming school year. I tried to understand how parents would prepare for it, but I got lost in the weeds. Start out distance learning, in November maybe go to a hybrid of distance and in-school learning, or depending on the virus, maybe back to distance learning. It is enough drive one crazy!

In today's USA Today, there is an article about colleges. This big, robust push to have normal classes this fall, is starting to peter out. Like in some colleges, it is back to looking at a computer while sitting at home. There goes the college experience. Then the question begs to be asked - how much should it cost to attend college using only online services? Can't be the same as in class instruction. Can debt riddled colleges afford to offer such an inexpensive alternative? Are we reaching the point of total change?

This is about to get even crazier. Besides college kids looking for discounted tuition because of using only online services, there are more and more taxpayers who want a refund on their property taxes. Like, why are they paying to maintain schools which are not in use? What is even more bizarre, there are many schools in our district which are going through big expansions. Big construction projects. Look for that to be another hot button issue when the schools come looking for more money.

Not to jump topics, but I have been hearing news reports that colleges, universities and public schools, are not the only places with empty buildings. In downtown New York City, many skyscrapers are so empty right now, the place is looking like a ghost town during rush hour. Between the lawlessness of the heathens, the economic downturn, and people working from home due to the virus, many buildings sit with tons of vacancies.

Those who were hoping for a summer where things start returning to normal, need to keep hoping. Things are still far from returning to where they were. So where are we then? We are knee deep in a change that few if any, saw coming. How this will end is anyone's guess. With this upcoming school year, like many other things today, we need to be patient and nimble. Why? We have no choice.