Learning Loss
What to know: The pandemic school closures will cost American students trillions of dollars in lost earnings, a new study by Stanford University shows.
The TPPF take: The harm done by school closures won’t be fully known for years.
“Without foundational knowledge, struggling students pass from 8th grade to high school woefully unprepared,” says TPPF’s Michael Barba. “It’s not their fault, but it is their problem: 93% of students who fall behind never catch up. The test scores released this week confirm what parents have been shouting from the rooftops.”
For more on learning loss, click here.
Science Education
What to know: American students are falling behind on science education.
The TPPF take: Science education takes a hit when federal officials declare themselves “the science,” as Dr. Anthony Fauchi did last year. But classical education has an answer for this.
“That’s not science, that’s dogma,” says classical educator Myles Dempsey. “When we teach science in a classical school, we start with the history of science—how the thinking developed. We read Robert Boyle (1627-1691), we read Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794). We read [Boyle’s] ‘The Skeptical Chymist.’ We teach students you have to be skeptical.”
For more on science education, click here.
Rising from the Grave?
What to know: Some companies want the Texas Legislature to renew tax breaks for economic development, despite clear evidence they do no good—and come at a high price for other taxpayers.
The TPPF take: These tax breaks, referred to as Chapter 313 exemptions, are costly and unnecessary.
“At best, these incentives do not work; at worst, they can be harmful,” says TPPF’s Carine Martinez. “If the problem is that property taxes in Texas are too high, then they are too high for everyone and this is the problem we should fix instead of giving tax breaks to a select few businesses.”
For more on Chapter 313 tax breaks, click here.