At one time, schools served a narrow purpose: Teaching kids to read, write and do arithmetic.
Today, schools have added far more subjects to teach and have also become a social safety net for children, provding meals and protection from abuse and neglect. Teachers have a legal mandate to report to authorities any suspected mistreatment of students.
But that safety net is no longer secure as in-person school has been largely eliminated for much of this school year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, students are learning at home remotely or through packets handed out weekly. As a result, teachers have less personal contact with students.