This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
On a sweltering summer day in August 2020, New York City Mayor and Schools Chancellor unveiled a long-awaited plan for outdoor classrooms, a move that brought relief to many parents.
However, the delay in implementing this plan has left many questioning the authorities' response to the pandemic. 'Why isn't the government helping the schools, funding them properly, so that the schools can be a safe place where their kids can go?' asks psychotherapist Lesley Alderman.
Alderman's patients, ranging from middle-class to affluent families, are struggling to cope with the uncertainty of their children's education. Many feel guilty for wanting their kids to return to school, fearing they may be putting their children and teachers in jeopardy.
As the pandemic exacerbates the existing social and economic inequalities, parents are being forced to confront the harsh reality of their own financial limitations. 'Someone failed them,' Alderman emphasizes, highlighting the need for a functioning government to provide support to families in need.
With safety and education being privatized, many parents are left feeling anxious, envious, and ashamed. The pandemic has exposed the deep-seated flaws in America's social support system, leaving many to wonder if they have done their children wrong.
