One person who is staunchly in favor of schools resuming in-person teaching is former Austin City Council member – and mother of three children – Ellen Troxclair.
It’s not only safe but also the best way to educate kids, says Troxclair, who serves as a senior fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Not holding classes on school grounds is much more detrimental to children, in her view.
“We know from all of the data, as well as the many other countries who have opened their schools already, that the risk to both children and teachers is incredibly low,” Troxclair told the Lone Star Standard. “Children are less likely to contract or transmit the virus. Yet the consequences of children falling behind academically, socially and nutritionally are severe and possibly irreparable. I am beyond grateful to our preschool director for working diligently to ensure that they are able to reopen in a responsible, safe and developmentally appropriate way, utilizing recommendations like staggered start dates, smaller classes and increased outdoor time that have proved successful in other places.”
TPPF Senior Fellow Ellen Troxclair
| Contributed photo
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said that school districts can make their own decisions on when they reopen and how to educate students. But Abbott agreed with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that local health officials cannot stop schools from opening classrooms. Districts can delay reopening, the governor said, but must make up the time.
The Texas Education Agency has said that schools can limit campus access for the first four weeks of the school year and can request a waiver from the TEA to extend that by four weeks. It has said if districts close without state approval, they can lose state funds.
Troxclair is a small business owner who founded a residential real estate firm, works as a public policy creator, political commentator and nonprofit leader. She said people need to grasp what keeping students away from schools means to kids.
“The benefits of reopening exponentially outweigh the risks, in almost every category,” Troxclair said. “Keeping schools closed has a domino effect that impacts parents, businesses and our quality of life. Besides supporting healthy development, schools also provide a safe place for many kids in need.”
She said there are grave dangers to children out of school, something most people don't realize.
“The thing that is weighing most heavily on my heart is that we know that child abuse and sex trafficking have increased during this lockdown,” Troxclair said. “Schools are a safe place for these children, where their abuse is often first recognized and where they can get help. We are leaving those children with no refuge.”
What will it mean for children to be out of school for months at a time? Schools closed in the early spring as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the nation.
“The long-term impacts to our children developmentally are still unknown,” Troxclair said. “Kids [and adults] thrive when they have a sense of normalcy and security. Disrupting schools, depriving kids of social interaction with friends and forcing working parents to choose between the education of their children or their job throws our lives into chaos and uncertainty.”
Although she is known for her conservative views — she was the sole voice from the right on the Austin City Council — Troxclair said there is another element to consider: Women must decide how to care for kids who are not in school.
“We will also lose decades of progress for women in the workplace, who are more likely to quit their jobs when faced with that choice,” she said.
It’s a part of her world, too, as she and her husband Caleb care for their children. She has three children younger than four: Juliette, “almost 4,” Margaret, 2, and son Brooks, who is 11 months.
“Juliette is so excited to return to her preschool and be reunited with her friends and teachers,” Troxclair said. “Margaret can’t wait to go to school for the first time and experience the fun and learning that her sister has told her about. And Brooks isn’t quite old enough yet.”
Troxclair served as a chief of staff in the Texas Legislature. She was the youngest woman to serve on the Austin City Council and was chair of American City County Exchange, a national organization for local elected officials and private sector members.
