COVID-19 recession makes history – in a good way

+ teachers' rights and critical race theory in the classroom US Edition - Today's top story: COVID-19 recession: One of America's deepest downturns was also its shortest after bailout-driven bounceback [View in browser]( US Edition | 21 July 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Think back to mid-March 2020. Coronavirus cases were beginning to spike in New York, Washington and California. Much of the U.S. went into lockdown, shutting down vast swaths of the economy. Over the next few months, as the pandemic spread and deaths mounted, millions lost their jobs and the economy sank into the deepest recession on record. It turns out that it was also the shortest, according to an elite group of economists who this week officially declared the end of the 2020 recession. Jay Zagorsky, an economist at Boston University, explains the meaning of recession, [why it took them so long to call it]( and the role of trillions of dollars in coronavirus aid in ending the downturn after only two months. Also today: - [Free lunch bills could have a direct impact on kids’ health and well-being]( - [From insulin’s discovery 100 years ago to diabetes treatment]( - [Effects of childhood adversity can continue into college]( Bryan Keogh Senior Editor, Economy + Business The U.S. economy bounced back in record time. Ambre Haller/Moment via Getty Images [COVID-19 recession: One of America’s deepest downturns was also its shortest after bailout-driven bounceback]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University An economist explains what a recession is, who decides and why it took so long to learn that the COVID-19 downturn was officially over. Politics + Society - [Lawsuits over bans on teaching critical race theory are coming – here’s what won’t work, and what might]( Frank LoMonte, University of Florida New state laws in the US banning teaching about systemic racism raise the question: Does the Constitution protect public school teachers' right to choose how and what to teach? Science + Technology - [Insulin was discovered 100 years ago – but it took a lot more than one scientific breakthrough to get a diabetes treatment to patients]( James P. Brody, University of California, Irvine A biomedical engineer explains the basic research that led to the discovery of insulin and its transformation into a lifesaving treatment for millions of people with diabetes. Economy + Business - [Why women need male allies in the workplace – and why fighting everyday sexism enriches men too]( Meg Warren, Western Washington University While women felt more included when they perceived male colleagues as allies, men who saw themselves that way reported more personal growth as a result. Education - [Effects of childhood adversity linger during college years]( Toni Watt, Texas State University Multiple difficult childhood experiences can lead to depression and anxiety during college, research has found. Lack of support often makes things worse. - [Free school meals for all children can improve kids’ health]( Matthew J. Landry, Stanford University Expanding free lunch programs could also reduce stigma for students, lower administrative burdens for schools and create jobs for communities. Arts + Culture - [Why Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘Whitey on the Moon’ still feels relevant today]( A.D. Carson, University of Virginia In 1970, Gil Scott-Heron penned a spoken word song called 'Whitey on the Moon' that criticized the 1969 Moon landing. A hip-hop scholar explains why the song still reverberates today. Ethics + Religion - [Why a 19th-century Russian anarchist is relevant to the mask and vaccine debate]( Michael Locke McLendon, California State University, Los Angeles John Locke and John Stewart Mill don't provide much in the way of justification for ignoring public health advice in a pandemic. Mikhail Bakunin, however... Health - [How to avoid food-borne illness – a nutritionist explains]( Ruth S. MacDonald, Iowa State University 'When in doubt, throw it out' – and more tips to make sure your festive feast won't make you sick. Trending on site - [When Americans recall their roots, they open up to immigration]( Claire L. Adida, University of California San Diego; Adeline Lo, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Lauren Prather, University of California San Diego; Melina Platas, New York University Abu Dhabi; Scott Williamson, New York University Abu Dhabi Research suggests that reminding Americans – Democrats and Republicans – of their family history creates empathy for immigrants and more favorable views toward immigration. - [New COVID-19 vaccine warnings don’t mean it’s unsafe – they mean the system to report side effects is working]( Justin Vesser, University of Virginia Ongoing tracking is meant to spot very rare risks – like the connection between the Johnson & Johnson shot and Guillain-Barré syndrome. And it relies on public reporting. - [How effective is the first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?]( William Petri, University of Virginia An immunologist explains that you get some protection from the first dose of the mRNA vaccines but you need two to build up strong immunity, particularly to newer coronavirus variants. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A map of the United States showing the laws regarding public beach access.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451