Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr.
- Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr. is pastor at the New Olivet Worship Centre in Cordova, Tennessee.
One particular issue COVID-19 has taught us is that pandemics are apolitical. There is no Democrat or Republican way to die from a viral infection that chokes off our potential to breathe.
An additional lesson that this terrible disease has re-taught us is that well being outcomes in the United States are largely established by race, ethnicity, and ZIP code. Poverty should not be a loss of life sentence, however figures demonstrate that very poor Black and brown People in america are disproportionately represented in the mortality info.
But the most insightful learnings of this present age have to do with the equalizing opportunity of a excellent instruction.
In a way, this pandemic has place our youngsters on a level playing discipline, regardless of their financial standing. Digital understanding has afforded public and personal colleges alike — with the enable of good corporate citizens who have donated hardware, computer software, world-wide-web connections, and bodily room — invigorating and enjoyable strategies to educate.
And with news of a vaccine, there is no purpose not to strategize approaches in which we can not only treatment the ailment of the coronavirus, but the sickness of unequal training results between the youngsters who will be long run researchers who will treatment potential viruses.
Tennessee’s Schooling Personal savings Account (ESA) method is not a placebo. It is a tested cure for what ails so numerous of our children who materialize to be restricted by poverty.
However, political players, mainly Democrats, have tried to block the software, which is now becoming litigated.
I have news for them: We ain’t likely again to college normal.
And Faculty Option 7 days 2021 (Jan. 24-30) will find us driving our place home with renewed fervor and target.
Individuals muse almost day-to-day about when our country will get “back to usual.” From viewing aged kin without the need of concern of transmitting ailment to observing a cashier’s smile without having a mask, it is effortless to extensive for a return to our pre-coronavirus life.
But there’s a single gaping place of our lives wherever none of us should want a return to normal— simply because normal was not ample for a lot of little ones, specifically Black and brown Tennesseans.
In reshaping K-12 education and learning, Tennessee people will need to intention and inquire for far better than usual.
I’m a lifelong Democrat, and I look forward to influencing our new Democratic president to see the knowledge in supplying parental college decision to thousands and thousands of People who put him in office. I hope other folks in my placement will use their voice to do the very same.
Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr. is pastor at the New Olivet Worship Centre in Cordova, Tennessee.
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