Mind Uncharted Explore. Discover. Learn.
Michigan’s Education Crisis
Michigan has been grappling with the repercussions of government-mandated school closures since the onset of the pandemic. However, rather than addressing the issue head-on, Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has proposed a questionable solution: the establishment of a redundant and unwieldy bureaucracy to channel taxpayer funds.
A Redundant Department
In her executive order dated July 12, Whitmer intends to create a new education department called the “Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.” This new department, dedicated to “lifelong learning,” would exist separately from Michigan’s existing Department of Education.
Misguided Priorities
Whitmer justifies this move by stating, “For too long, we have thought of education as K-12, but we know that’s not good enough.” However, it remains unclear how this redundant bureaucracy will effectively contribute to the learning process and benefit Michigan’s students.
Missteps in School Closures
If Whitmer genuinely wanted to improve education in Michigan, she should reconsider her decision to close schools during the pandemic. Not only were schools shut down in the spring of 2020, but they were also closed again in November 2020 and April 2021. Even during the fall semester of 2022, school districts like Ann Arbor resumed remote learning.
The Consequences
Unsurprisingly, Michigan suffered severe repercussions in terms of public school enrollment and academic performance. Test scores, particularly in fourth-grade reading, plummeted, causing Michigan to drop from 32nd to 43rd place in national rankings. Despite ranking 21st in per-student education spending, the state still struggled to meet educational standards.
A Superfluous Solution
An additional department filled with bureaucrats is unlikely to rectify these issues, especially when it duplicates an existing bureaucracy. Addressing the harm caused by Whitmer’s imposed lockdowns necessitates accountability and a departure from anti-science measures, with Whitmer primarily assuming responsibility.
