The Census Matters

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Hello Everyone:

It is a lovely Tuesday afternoon in the blogosphere and Yours Truly is here for you.  Big news coming out of the Biden campaign.  VPOTUS Joe Biden (D-DE) is getting ready to announce his running mate.  Yours Truly does not envy the Gentleman from Delaware having to decide which brilliant, successful, independent minded woman will join him on the Democratic ticket.  Both Blogger and The Candidate Forum have a favorite but will it be her or someone else?  Keep your eye on former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL),  Representatives Val Demmings (D-FLA) and Karen Bass (D-CA).  They are sort of under-the-radar choices that bring with them strengths and weakness.  Regardless, the moment will eventually dictate the decision.  There is no right choice, just the best person for the job, whoever she ma be.  Onward

Every ten years, the United States undertakes a census, a tally every person living in all fifty states and five territories.  During ancient times (before the internet) someone used to go around, knock on people's door to ask them a few questions, or everyone had to fill out a form by hand.  As Yours Truly said, ancient times.  The Census is mandated by The United States Constitution.

The section of The Constitution regarding The Census
m.washingtontimes.com

"The U.S. Constitution requires only that the decennial census be a population count" (census.gov; July 28, 2020).  The first census was conducted in 1790.  Throughout the nineteenth century, the decennial census steadily expanded as the country grew in size.  By the beginning of the 20th-century, census takers collected demographic information on the demography, agricultural, and economic topics, as well as hundreds of subjects.  The work of processing and collating the data kept the Census Office open for most of the decades following the 1880 and 1890.  As the decennial census grew in complexity, Congress passed legislation creating a permanent Census Office within the Department of the Interior on March 6, 1902 (Ibid).  On July 1, 1902, the U.S. Census Bureau formally opened its doors under the leadership of William Rush Merriam (Ibid)

In 1903, the Census Office was moved to the newly created Department of Labor and Commerce, remaining with Commerce when the department was split in two in 1913 (Ibid).  Why is The Census important?

Why The Census is important
examiner.org

The short answer is it is about fair representation, your civic duty, it is about redistricting, and everyone counts.  The long answer is more detailed.  Everyone, regardless of citizenship status, is required to respond.  Thanks to modern technology you can respond using your phone (like Blogger) or other device, by phone, or fill out an actual paper form.  "Responding to the census is mandatory because getting a complete and accurate count of the population is critically important.  An accurate count of the population serves as the basis for fair political representation and plays a vital role in many areas of public life" (prb.org; Mar. 15, 2019; date accessed July 28, 2020).  There are six key areas in which census data, collected this year, will play an important role in public life.

The first area where census data plays a significant role is apportionment.  "State population counts from decennial census are sued to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives" (Ibid).  Each state population count determines how each of 435 seat in The House are divided (currently California has the largest number of representatives: 45 Democrats and 7 Republicans) across each of the 50 states.  It is predicted that "After the 2020 Census, southern and western states are expected to gain seats--and political clout--at the expense of states in the Northeast and Midwest" (Ibid).  The first data set from the 2020 Census will be apportionment counts, impacting the size of the delegations for the 2022 midterm elections and state votes in the Electoral College for the 2024 presidential election.

State and municipal official use census results to help redraw congressional, state, and local district maps, ideally to contain roughly an equal number of people to ensure that individual voting closely matches--i.e. one person, one vote rule.

nps.k12.nj.us

The census results also help determine the amount of funding that state governments and municipalities receive from the federal government for the next ten years.  Following the 2010, "Census Bureau data were used to distribute more than $675 billion in federal funds to states and local communities for health, education, housing, and infrastructure programs during Fiscal Year 2015" (Ibid).  Accurate census results ensure that funding for vital programs be equitably distributed for numerous vital programs like Medicaid, highway planning and construction, the National School Lunch Program, and special education.

Census data results is also used to guide a wide range of government, business, and non-profit decisions.  The data results are used to determine the need for new roads, hospitals, schools, and other public sector investments.  Census data is also crucial to businesses as a key source of information about the America population's changing needs and preferances.

We live in the age of climate emergency and pandemic, thus "Detailed population information is critical for emergency response in the wake of disasters" (Ibid).  First responders and disaster recovery teams use census data to target and how much help is needed.  Accurate demographic details from the census assist epidemiologists and public health officials in tracking everything from diseases, like COVID-19, opioid epidemic, child health.  Last, the "Decennial census data provide a population base for dozens of federal surveys" (Ibid).  The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program uses the information together with birth, death, and migration data to generate annual population and housing estimates.  The estimates are used as "population controls for the American Community Survey, Current Population Survey, and many other federal surveys--so that the number of housing units and people in certain categories agree with the Census Bureau's official estimates" (Ibid).  Does the census really matter right now?

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In a word, yes the 2020 census does matter, especially now.  In the past, the census has been at the center of national controversies over slavery, immigration, congressional redistricting, and racial discrimination (cfr.org; Apr. 2, 2020; date accessed July 28, 2020).  The census has already found itself under the twisted scrutiny of the president who tried to include a question about citizenship, something opponents say would distort the count (Ibid)  There has been criticism over the rising costs and increased exposure to cyberattacks (Ibid).  Meanwhile, the raging pandemic has disrupted the procedure, raising additional fears of an inaccurate count.

The COVID virus has forced the Census Bureau to reconsider its approach, delayed or extended most phases of the process, reduced staff, and paused field operations (Ibid).  The pandemic has forced officials to cancel job fairs used to recruit temporary field workers and forced community organization to cancel awareness programs.  Although responses are coming in, there are concerns that the disruptions will diminish the accuracy of the results.  "Minority groups could be undercounted, some experts say, while household able to respond online could be overrepresented.  The movement of people due to the pandemic, particularly by college students sent home from campus, could also affect federal funding distribution based on the count" (Ibid).  You see why the 2020 census, pandemic notwithstanding, matters.

If you need more information on the 2020 Census, please go to 2020census.gov.

How To Reopen The Schools

Representative John Lewis in from of the Edmund Pettis Bridge
cnn.com

Hello Everyone:
Yours Truly is back after spending a week dealing with a family matter and is ready to write.

Before we get started on today's subject, let us take a moment to commemorate the passing of a Civil Rights icon, Representative John Lewis of Georgia.  Representative Lewis was among the "big six" civil rights leaders who literally risked their lives to insure fairness and equality, for all African Americans, under the law.  He lead the Students Nonviolence Coordinating Committee and participated in Freedom Rides.  Representative Lewis was beaten within an inch of his life while crossing the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama.  Throughout his life, Rep. Lewis vigorously fought for what was fair and what was right, laying the foundation for the Women, LGBTQIA, and Chicano Movements in the sixties and seventies.  Stand up, John Lewis is passing by.  Onward

mashupmath.com

It is the end of July and it is back to school time.  Normally Blogger's inbox would be bursting with emails blaring sales on everything from computer equipment to socks.  However, this back to school season is not like every back to school because of COVID-19.  When schools were abruptly closed back in March, parents, guardians, and teachers were forced to cobble together something that resembled a curriculum to keep the children from falling behind.  That did not   work out too well.  Working mothers were forced to bear the brunt of the childcare burden and those who could, hired private tutors.  Now here we are, time to start the fall semester but how do you open school while there is a raging pandemic?  Why is it important to reopen school?

sciencemag.org

Why should schools reopen?  If you ask the parents and guardians, they might tell you they cannot wait to get their children out of the house.  You ask the children, they might tell you they are actually ready to go back to school and see their friends.  Complicating the matter are questions about the children' safety.  The current available suggests that "if children become infected, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms" (cdc.gov; July 23, 2020; date accessed July 27, 2020).  School aged children have lower mortality rates than adults (Ibid).  At the same time, not going to school can lead to significant short- and long-term social, behavioral, and emotional consequences as well as damage academic achievement and affect a student's economic future.    Further, the lack of in-person instruction options disproportionately harms low-income, minority, and disabled students.  These students are less likely to have access to private instruction and resource support--i.e. food, counseling, special education, and after school programs--to address their developmental needs (Ibid).  How should parents and guardians decide whether to send their children back to school

ocregister.com

Over the next few weeks, parents and guardians will be faced with the daunting choice of whether to send their children back to school for in-person instruction or continue with online instruction.  The determinants in making this decision are: a student and family's risk for infection or instruction platform options (in-person, online, or combination).  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--cdc.gov-- provides tools parents and guardian can use to guide their decision.  If you go to the CDC website, you can access a worksheet that can help you assess the risk.  The worksheet is designed to help gauge a student's risk for infection based on underlying conditions (eg. respiratory illness), does the family live with someone who is at risk for severe illness from the virus due to age or underlying condition, and the level of community spread.

Some children may be at greater risk of contracting the COVID virus or may be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19,  For these children, parents and caregivers may need to take additional precautions.  Who are the people at greater risk for the virus? Older adults, people with underlying conditions, and people with medical conditions such as COPD, heart conditions, chronic kidney disease.  People who require extra precautions include racial and ethnic minority groups; people in rural communities; people experiencing homelessness; pregnant and breastfeeding women; people with disabilities; people with developmental and behavioral issues.  Also, people who support individuals needing extra precautions include caregivers, group homes for disabled, newly resettled refugee populations (cdc.gov; July 21, 2020; date accessed July 27, 2020).  School aged children are included in the high risk groups.  What can a parent or guardian do in order to decide whether to send their child back to school?

ncee.org

    The best way for parents and guardians to make that decision is review a school or school district reopening plan to get a better grasp of what steps they taking to reduce the spread of the virus and support educational goals.  School can put in place disease reduction strategies that address four  key areas:

1. promote behaviors that reduce the spread (eg. social distancing, face covering, regular hand washing)
2. maintaining a healthy environment (cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces proper ventilation)
3. maintaining health operations (staggered schedules, dividing students into pods)
4. preparing for someone falling sick (Ibid) 

Schools in communities with higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 will likely take more aggressive measures to prevent the spread of the virus.  The CDC has made available a guide, Considerations for School, for ways schools can safely reopen their doors.  Parents and guardians might also interest to find out how schools plan to support their children' emotional well being, online and in-person.

Further, schools can work with state, local, territorial, and tribal health officials to decide what and how to implement strategies that meet each students' unique needs and communities' circumstances.  Roll out of these strategies should be done in a feasible, practical, way, tailored to each place.

Ultimately the decision rests with the parents and guardians whether to send their children back to school for in-person instruction.  In making that decision, each family should consider its unique needs and what strategies the school is implementing to reduce virus transmission.  Most important, parents and guardians should be guided by what is in the best interest of their children, not by politics.  Schools and school districts should have support networks in-place to meet each student's physical, emotional, and academic goals.  There are still too many unknowns about COVID-19 and one of them should not be how a school is going to reopen safely.