INDIANAPOLIS–Vice Pres. Mike Pence discussed the importance of students returning to in-person learning during a panel discussion at Marian University in Indianapolis, Friday afternoon. Pence said Congress may make additional money available to make it easier for schools to reopen safely.
“We’ve actually requested the Congress in this new legislation that’s being debated as we speak, for another $105 billion to be made available to states for K-12 education and for higher education,” said Pence.
He said he does not want finances to be a reason for schools not being able to open.
“We understand that there are unique costs in implementing the safety measures that our schools are implementing today.”
Some of those costs include PPE and cleaning.
Pence was joined in the discussion by Gov. Eric Holcomb, Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Deborah Birx, and Sec. of Education Betsy DeVos.
“There are so many measures that we need to be considering when we look at the importance of children getting back into school and into a classroom with their friends and peers and teachers,” said DeVos, echoing Pence’s sentiments, which are guided by Pres. Trump’s insistence that school should re-open for in-person learning.
“The risk of the coronavirus to healthy children is very low,” said Pence. “It’s also important to remember that there are real costs far beyond academics if they’re not in school.”
Pence cited a study saying that the average student may begin this school year 35 percent behind in reading and 50 percent behind in math because of the swift transition out of the classroom in mid-March.
“Many children across the country and families where children either have learning disabilities or deal with emotional issues, they receive the counseling at the schools and really nowhere else,” said Pence.
Gov. Holcomb has strongly suggested that schools offer an in-classroom option to begin the school year. Some schools are opting for virtual learning only, a decision that Holcomb said he respects, though he wishes that all schools in Indiana would offer in classroom learning for the well-being of students.
A response to the Pence visit from Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody:
“During this pandemic, Americans and Hoosiers need certainty, and the Trump-Pence administration has provided nothing but arrogant displays of passing the buck and blaming everyone and everything but their own incompetence. Their ignorance of reality can’t be stopped with a photo op while American families are left with mounting questions.”
