State Think Tank Boss: Send Our Kids Back to School

Daniel Erspamer from the Pelican Institute Public policy Center talks about the importance of - and scientific evidence behind - opening schools in Louisiana with kids in attendance.

Getting children back in the classroom, Erspamer says, should be one state educator's top priorities. "We have to do it as quickly and as safely as possible," he says, "I'm not a doctor and I'm not an epidemiologist, but I am an economist and I am someone who like to consume data and research and I've looked at a number of the studies out there...and every piece of evidence points to the facts that kids are the very lowest risk, both in terms of contracting and transmitting the virus."

But Erspamer emphasizes that he's not suggesting that schools or educators throw caution to the wind. "We have to also protect those most vulnerable. we have to have options."

He then talks about the Pelican Institute's "Back to School Week," featuring a number of video conversations with state educators on the group's Facebook page.

From pelicaninstitute.org:

"Over the course of the week, we are diving deep into Louisiana’s current education landscape, hosting conversations with leaders across the state, and releasing policy solutions to help students and parents overcome current difficulties. We’re hosting in-depth PeliCasts on our Facebook page, where we will discuss the future of Louisiana schools and new opportunities for transformational reform."

Those interviews will feature members of the state's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, education policy and reform experts and will culminate with an interview with Louisiana's Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley.

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