Where Did The Kids Go?

Sort of a "ya think" story: "Where are they now? Urban public schools see steep fall in enrollment" by Joanne Jacobs. She relates:

    Two million students disappeared from public and private school rolls  in the 2021-22 school year, according to a Brookings report. Two years later, well after all schools had reopened, 

    2.1 million students are still "missing," reports Hechinger's Jill Barshay. "No one knows whether these kids are getting an education."

    Before the pandemic, 85 percent of students attended traditional public schools, she writes. Almost 9 percent were in private schools. After the pandemic, the number fell below 80 percent. It "hasn't rebounded." Private school enrollment has held steady. 

The difference can't be explained by the increased enrollment in charter schools or "virtual" schools. "I suspect many homeschoolers and microschoolers are flying under the radar, and don't show up in official statistics," writes Jacobs. But between the missing students, falling birth rates, and alternatives to public schools, we should expect to see mass public school closures, the article concludes. 

"Unforeseen" Social Effects of China's One-Child Policy

Discovery Magazine reports on unforeseen social effects due to China's one-child policy, including that children born after implementation of the policy were less trusting and less trustworthy, more self-centered, and less cooperative. I'm not sure, when considering a generation of only-children that this should be considered "unforeseen."

Preparedness for Kids

An article from Shooting Illustrated on getting your kids involved in preparedness. The article discusses talking and planning with your kids, and then offers the following advice on a kid-appropriate bug-out-bag:

I modified the food a bit based on my children’s likes and dislikes, and altered some quantities and volumes for convenience. For instance, instead of each of them having one small peanut butter, we put one large peanut butter in one bag. Instead of individual packs of trail mix, we put a big one in one bag. It saves space.
The next step is to make three packages of one day’s worth of rations. Explain to your children that it is a one day supply. If I let my son eat whatever he wanted, he’d eat nothing but the cereal bars for the first day.

In addition to the food, you’ll need utensils to eat. We opted for the CRKT Eat’n Tool, since it doubles for other uses. Don’t forget, if you take canned goods, a can opener is essential. Load the individual bags into the bug-out bag with water and other supplies.
After you make the food portion of your bug-out bag, rotate it out every six months. Just put the food in your pantry to eat, and refresh the stock in the bag.

Other items to include in the bag:

• Flashlight
• Pen and paper, in case we need to leave notes
• An old, unused smart phone. In addition to being able to dial 911, it has games and other entertainment for the kids. Make sure you charge it periodically.
• Lip balm
• Money, in small bills and coins only, in case of vending machines
• Folded paper towels kept in a zip bag. These serve many purposes, such as cleaning and emergency toilet paper.
• Hand sanitizer

We also have a few stacks of games and toys that are easily grabbed for the trip, since bugging out would likely be boring for kids.

There are a few things we don’t keep in the kids’ bags, such as guns, knives, medicines and items used to start fires. Those are kept in the adult bags for obvious reasons.

Warrior Talk News -- Raising an Armed Family

Advice for childproofing your firearms ... and gunproofing your children. (Link here).

Food for Children's Brains

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

An easy way to kick-start energy levels and improve concentration is to start the day with wholegrains. Berries are another fabulous brain food, with compounds known to boost brain signals and help memory. Calcium-rich foods, such as yoghurt, improve nerve function - combine with berries and wholegrains or blend into a super smoothie for breakfast.

During study breaks, eat foods that boost energy and concentration; too many processed carbohydrates can leave you feeling sleepy. Instead of biscuits, munch on fresh fruit, raw vegetable sticks, nuts and seeds, which contain proteins, vitamins and essential fatty acids. Walnuts, almonds, pecans and cashews are top of the list and make a great snack at home, but remember, most schools have nut-free policies due to students with extreme allergies.

Include sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in home-made toasted muesli or sprinkle them over a healthy lunchtime salad.

Eggs, avocados and tomatoes - perfect for a simple, tasty salad - are all good for brain health. Broccoli and spinach are also on this list, as is fish. Combine it with leafy greens for a fast and easy mid-week dinner.

And yes, chocolate really is good for you. Dark chocolate has antioxidants and natural stimulants that improve focus and concentration, but is best taken in moderation.

The article has several recipes, including a granola recipe.