Kids haven't recovered from pandemic learning loss and social "rupture"
Students have fallen behind in math, reading, US history, and civics - and socially. It's a tough road to pandemic recovery, but our pro-social nature offers encouragement from a Stoic perspective.
We still have a very long way to go towards pandemic recovery for our children.
That message was brought home in the US with new data from the “Nation’s Report Card” produced via the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The organization has released the results of testing students in math, reading, and more recently, in US history and civics. The testers ranged from 4th to 12thgrade, depending on the assessment.
The picture is pretty dismal. Student scores are down significantly in math and reading, and now, in the latest report, in US history and civics results for 8th graders. As the NY Times put it:
National test scores released on Wednesday showed a marked drop in students’ knowledge of U.S. history and a modest decline in civics, a sign of the pandemic’s alarming reach, damaging student performance in nearly every academic area.
More specifically, the results show:
About 40 percent of eighth graders scored “below basic” in U.S. history last year, compared with 34 percent in 2018 and 29 percent in 2014. Just 13 percent of eighth graders were considered proficient — demonstrating competency over challenging subject matter — down from 18 percent nearly a decade ago.
It’s not encouraging. And it’s not surprising. So much learning was lost during pandemic lockdowns when classes went remote. Many teachers, understandably, struggled to be able to provide structure without access to classroom teaching tools. Students were expected to figure out a ton for themselves. Most students weren’t equipped to do that, and it was disastrous.
My kids spent a lot of effort trying to understand what they were supposed to learn, and deciphering the expectations for remote exams and assignments. They were lucky because their parents were working from home, were engaged with them, and could help out here and there—but for many, that wasn’t possible. Even when kids, particularly high schoolers, were motivated by their teachers to work hard in classwork online, I heard reports about significant cheating happening behind the scenes. And cheating, in general, means a lack of learning.
Why should we care about what our kids learn? I think the answer to that hardly needs explaining, especially when it comes to math and reading. But I’d like to offer a defense of history and civics, too. I’ve wondered for years why my children have had so little exposure to US and world history or civics and government studies, especially up until 10th grade. Their high school doesn’t even allow 9th graders to take social studies or history! As a former student of history myself (it was half my major, and the focus of my graduate studies), I think it’s a huge gap for students in their understanding of the world.
I’m not sure if those who do not learn history are “condemned to repeat it” exactly, as the old saying goes, but they are certainly condemned to misunderstand the root causes of why things are the way they are in the US today. And certainly, a lack of knowledge about history is making online misinformation all the more potent. In addition, some folks are weaponizing history for their own motives, or debating what should even be allowed to be taught, which further muddies the waters and enables misguided ideas to flourish.
I also suspect that with our current emphasis on technology, lots of people don’t see any relevance in history or civics. I disagree wholeheartedly.
The NY Times story on the National Report Card results highlights an example of misplaced civic engagement among students and young people who haven’t learned the fundamentals about how the US government works:
A base knowledge in history and civics is critical for students to become engaged, informed citizens, particularly amid misinformation on social media platforms, said Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of Tufts University’s CIRCLE center, an organization focused on youth civic engagement.
She cited a recent TikTok campaign against an Alaska oil project, which resulted in a misguided petition urging President Biden not to sell Alaska.
“You need some basics to understand what’s even verifiable: ‘Does it even jibe loosely with what I learned?’” she said, noting that the president does not have executive power to sell a state.
With American trust in institutions falling to new lows, but with young voter turnout and political engagement up, many see this as a pivotal moment for re-emphasizing history and civics education.
As I have written about before, Stoic thinking emphasizes being able to make judgments and take action on the things in our communities and our political spheres that are within our power. Ancient Stoics knew that humans are pro-social beings, and that we should not turn our back on our political or civic realm. Learning about history and civics in school makes that much more achievable. For example, if I’m informed about an issue and its historical context, I can decide which candidate to vote for, and which cause to support, and what to advocate for (or against) in my community or among my own circle.
What’s more, it is clear that the pandemic setbacks for students were not just academic, but also social. Data on children’s development has shown evidence of the “rupture” of kids’ social skills internationally (results included surveys from Ethiopia). And the mental health pandemic toll on kids—teens in particular—has been steep.
My older daughter, who was in high school when the pandemic began, reports that she and her classmates feel they missed out on having a “full” high school experience. They spent over a year studying and working from home in 2020 and 2021, a time filled with anxiety and isolation. During social distancing, it was nearly impossible to build friendships and relationships, to navigate the normal social ups and downs of high school, to gather at school dances or games, or to celebrate milestones together.
Just last month our high school finally hosted its first big in-person, school-wide, week-long event since the pandemic, the Battle of the Classes—pitting freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors against each other in fun competitions, games like flag football, and a dance-off. Both my kids threw themselves into it (physically and socially!) and they reported that it was one of the best school weeks in ages, culminating in an enormous pep rally (read: party). I got a chance to glimpse a video of students dancing and celebrating together in what looked like old times.
But it will be a long while before they feel really recovered, in their confidence and pro-social experiences and skills. Anyone who has had to skip a formative period in their lives at any point can understand how that missing piece can ripple out into the future.
In spite of that, I’m inspired and encouraged by Stoicism’s acknowledgement of the pro-social nature of humans, and of our ability to make good choices and to form our own thoughts and judgments no matter where we find ourselves, and no matter what the setbacks have been.
For me as a parent, it reminds me how valuable it is to support our kids’ development both in school-based learning and in their social and emotional lives, to help them overcome what they have lost out on. I’m fully on board with any kind of learning help (peer tutoring among students, afterschool learning programs, support and mentoring by teachers and other adults, classes offered for free or low cost by school districts or community colleges in summer to help kids catch up…) as well as social experiences (more gatherings, afterschool bubble tea, and yes, parties and dances!) to help our kids rebound, and, I hope, thrive.
Please feel free to share in the comments: Have your kids or family members experienced pandemic setbacks? Have you or your community found ways to help? Do you see signs of recovery?
I did not see any setbacks with my kids but it’s because they were very young. During the pandemic we were privileged to live in a home where my kids can be kids and explore nature. We had a small pod so they can still socialize. My 15 year old nephew moved in with us august 2020 to a new town knowing no one. It took some time but he was able to transition (very slowly but understandable!) and he goes to college next year. Sometimes I feel guilty that we came out of the pandemic ok while watching others who struggle. How can someone in my position help?