U.N. chief warns world faces 'generational catastrophe' because of COVID-19 school closures

[Nevilledog]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/un-chief-warns-world-faces-generational-catastrophe-because-covid-19-n1235788

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that the world faces a “generational catastrophe” because so many schools have been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the largest disruption of education ever,” the U.N. chief said.

One billion students were left without classrooms when schools were closed in 160 countries across the globe and 40 million children “missed out on education in their critical pre-school year,” he said.

“Now we face a generational catastrophe that could waste untold human potential, undermine decades of progress, and exacerbate entrenched inequalities,” Gutteres said. “Getting students back into schools and learning institutions as safely as possible must be a top priority.”

The pandemic has killed nearly 700,000 people across the globe.

*snip*

[Squinch]

1. This is just wrong. Educationally, that pre-school year is not critical. In fact, the way most

schools deal with that pre-school year is in direct opposition to what we know about brain development. So the way most schools deal with that pre-school year HINDERS rather than helps with academic development.

That is true of the kindergarten and first grade year too.

Think of how we used to do pre-K, kindergarten and first grade. Pre-K was entirely socializing. Singing songs, learning how to listen and be with other kids. Playing most of the day. Kindergarten continued this and added lots of coloring and finger painting and circle games and the very beginnings of exposure to letters and numbers. Still lots and lots of playing and gross motor activity.

In the first grade we BEGAN to sit at desks for prolonged periods and began to be expected to wield a pencil to make big letters and numbers. Still, many play periods through the day.

THAT is in keeping with neurological development.

The only ones who do that now are Finland. Which is consistently the best performing country in academics.

For the rest of the kids, the older ones, one year with a reduced academic load is not going to kill anyone. Not like, say, Covid.

[brush]

9. Of course. And what if students in at all levels have to...

do zoom learning? All cohorts will still be at the same level as far as progressing in their education.

[Thekaspervote]

2. I usually don't weigh in against experts..but really? The kids will more than likely go

Back to school in the fall of 2021. If we are such a frail species that our kids will be permanently damaged from virtual learning for one year?? Then we really are doomed

[tanyev]

3. What about the generational catastrophe if they or family members

die or end up with serious permanent health problems?

[ChicagoRonin]

4. My two cents

My mom grew up in South Korea during the Korean War.

She can vividly recall the day Seoul was invaded. She said an air raid siren went off, the kids were ordered under their desks, and when the all clear was given the teacher told them to go straight home and not return until the government said it was okay.

The war lasted three years. She missed 1 1/2 years of school, and had to be shuffled back and forth across the country with my family as they fled for safety.

She eventually went to the number one university in South Korea and became a chemist. She's still alive and so is my grandmother (102 and counting).

Missing school is survivable.

[Thekaspervote]

8. +1000

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. This is fear mongering of the highest sort.

In WWII many of the schools in London weren't open. And probably not open across much of Europe. I don't think a generation was lost because of that.

[Nevilledog]

6. I was surprised he would take this position.

[crickets]

7. What is he talking about? Having to take an unplanned year off from school is an INCONVENIENCE.

Job loss and/or loss of income, hunger and homelessness from not being able to replace the source of income and receiving no assistance -- those things are catastrophes. Unnecessary death by pandemic is a catastrophe. Guterres and everyone else whining about a deferred year of school need to get a grip.

[nolabear]

10. There's way too much hysteria out there. And competition.

If we could even conceive of the idea that we can help one another get through the pandemic by rethinking education, getting resources to underserved kids, changing age limits for succession, etc. we could get everyone through.