The Marketing of “Learning Loss”

It is a made-up phrase used to get an emotional response

Photo by Kuanish Reymbaev on Unsplash

I am always amazed at how gullible the American public is, and how easy it is to market a bad or silly idea to them. The American public has been convinced to buy everything from Ford Edsels to pet rocks. We have been convinced that billionaires care about us, and the United States is the best country to live in, despite a plethora of statistics that indicate otherwise.

Marketing is a powerful tool, or more accurately, a powerful set of tools. Those who are attempting to convince us to buy a product or idea have much at their disposal. They use famous people to provide testimonials or endorsements, regardless of whether or not the person has any expertise on the matter. They use catchy phrases or jingles that become earworms. They use repetition. They use repetition. Did I say they use repetition?

We fall for it every time.

One of the more recent advertising gimmicks involves our schools. You have probably heard it within the last year. It’s called “Learning Loss.” Last school year during the pandemic lockdown, many students were at home learning remotely. It was during this time we began to hear this term being used over and over by those who wanted kids to return to a physical school building, no matter how dangerous…