General Discussion

mr715

(3,225 posts)

21. I can tell you from my experience

Thu Feb 5, 2026, 10:55 AM

Yesterday

that covid did massive damage to elementary/middle school education. The entire paradigm shift in response to the pandemic, and our subsequence reliance on tech is producing students with major deficits.

I taught 8th graders that couldn't hold a pencil. That couldn't maintain the stamina to write full sentences. That couldn't use formatting rules, or a heading.

Somewhat fascinating, though perhaps unexpected, these deficits also applied to tech itself. They couldn't use MS Word, couldn't validate sources, didn't even use wikipedia to get started on research.

2 years of lockdown for students left them with deep problems.

Also, Trump as President in 2016 made an impression that meanness is okay.

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wave_maker RockCreek raging moderate c-rational Justice matters.Texas_Blue_Dem Sequoia

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Highlight:

My husband went to a scientific meeting last week. [View all] redstatebluegirl Wednesday OP

To scientific education in the US Bluestocking Wednesday #1

I tried so hard once trump was installed the first time slightlv Wednesday #8

I am trying so hard to convince my son to go to France when... NNadir Yesterday #38

It's her excuse, not a valid reason. Smart and dedicated enough for a PHD? Smart enough to learn French. Norrrm 17 hrs ago #55

I'm quite sure it's not her only reason. NNadir 1 hr ago #58

Most scientists, myself included, feel the same way. AAAS sends all these thinly veiled emails of "concern." NNadir Wednesday #2

"...has committed suicide." markodochartaigh Wednesday #6

In the same way that civilians on Okinawa "committed suicide" in 1945 . . . hatrack Wednesday #17

That was the general tone at my meeting this past November. cab67 Wednesday #3

As a retired estuarine biologist BeneteauBum Wednesday #4

Joe Fucking Rogaine wolfie001 Wednesday #5

I'm a scientist and a science educator. mr715 Wednesday #7

I often wonder about the many aspects of your COVID question. RockCreek Yesterday #19

I can tell you from my experience mr715 Yesterday #21

I have seen what you describe RockCreek Yesterday #25

I still worry that, like HPV, the real cost of covid will appear in years mr715 Yesterday #27

I agree. RockCreek Yesterday #31

When I found out covid travelled through olfactory nerves to the brain mr715 Yesterday #32

Someone I know was recently diagnosed with a neural degenerative disease RockCreek Yesterday #36

When I was in HS working on a Westinghouse project mr715 Yesterday #37

I remember the outbreak of Mad Cow Sequoia 1 hr ago #59

Is that the popsdenver 19 hrs ago #47

Yeah mr715 18 hrs ago #52

There are some studies out there about people having less empathy Iris 19 hrs ago #50

That is terrifying. mr715 17 hrs ago #54

Isn't it though? I heard a brief report on the news and am too Iris 12 hrs ago #57

It amplified it Cosmocat Yesterday #33

Oh I agree mr715 Yesterday #34

Portrayal of Scientist in Entertainment modrepub Wednesday #9

Let's not forget a lackadaisical and compliant "news" media. progressoid Wednesday #11

I think scientists are more diverse in media mr715 Wednesday #12

Supervillains modrepub Wednesday #15

Yeah, it all starts in a lab mr715 Wednesday #16

The 1950s Japanese monster movies generally portrayed scientists favorably. NNadir Yesterday #18

I am a big fan of MST3K mr715 Yesterday #24

Love that series! ChazInAz Yesterday #20

So happy to know others have seen it. mr715 Yesterday #22

Also, mr715 Yesterday #28

But don't forget all the disaster movies where the authorities always ignore the scientist hero. Beartracks 23 hrs ago #43

Professor Periwinkle Sequoia 43 min ago #60

The essential role of science in our wellbeing is not widely recognized. dedl67 Wednesday #10

This administration sucks so fucking bad. Initech Wednesday #13

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO IS GONNA STOP HIM???? WHO??? a kennedy Wednesday #14

"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome __________?" SharonAnn 19 hrs ago #49

This is horrible Just_Vote_Dem Yesterday #23

Don't apologize for your Associates degree! redstatebluegirl Yesterday #29

Thank you so much! Just_Vote_Dem Yesterday #30

You should be proud! redstatebluegirl Yesterday #35

Be proud. mr715 Yesterday #39

Yes it does! Just_Vote_Dem 23 hrs ago #44

I never took Earth Science or (college) Physics mr715 23 hrs ago #45

I have three markodochartaigh 18 hrs ago #53

So it's even worse than I realized. ShazzieB Yesterday #26

So many people know we may be able to recover from tRump BigmanPigman Yesterday #40

It means that our brilliant young people will leave the country FakeNoose 23 hrs ago #41

Plus we grew up with parents who wanted their kids to go to college even if they didn't. redstatebluegirl 23 hrs ago #42

So true ... my parents made sure all 9 of us went to college FakeNoose 23 hrs ago #46

i can imagine BlueWaveNeverEnd 19 hrs ago #48

Trump is a vandal Blues Heron 19 hrs ago #51

Our current administration seems to be anti-legitimate science (see RFK Jr.) but is great guns on going AI. Norrrm 17 hrs ago #56

"Science" got dragged into politics gulliver 18 min ago #61