In-person learning should return for 2021-2022 school year
Just recently, a bicameral, bipartisan bill was introduced in the Oregon legislature that would ensure the children of Oregon would have
access to full, in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year.
HB 3399 from Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) would direct the
Oregon Department of Education to provide 100 percent in-person instruction for the
next school year.
Chief sponsors of the bill include Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton), Representative
Christine Drazan (R-Canby), and Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) .
Some Republican legislators made the following statements:
“This past year and a half has been really hard on kids in Oregon, I have seen it first
hand with my own boys.†said Representative Breese-Iverson. “We have all the facts
showing us it’s safe for them to be in school, so we can’t wait any longer. Hybrid learning
has been a start, but fully reopening schools will give them the consistent and
dependable schedule of in-person instruction that is so valuable for their learning.â€
“We know it’s safe to attend school, and we know the negative side effects of distanced
learning are unacceptable, so what are we waiting for?†added Senator Girod. “We
should have made this promise to kids months ago. We have to draw a line in the sand
and let parents know they can depend on the public school system next year.â€
“We’ve had more than a year of at-home learning and it’s time to get kids back in
school,†said Representative Drazan. “My family and my community need their schools
fully reopened, and our students need schools fully reopened. Their mental health and
academic futures depend on it.â€
“As a parent I’ve seen first-hand how the past year of learning has hurt my kids,†added
Representative Boshart Davis. “If we don’t take action now, the long-lasting negative
consequences for our kids will only get worse and could last their entire lives. This is our
opportunity to stop that from happening.â€
--Bruce Armstrong| Post Date: 2021-05-10 15:07:22 | Last Update: 2021-05-10 17:02:17 |
