US adults are skipping parenting, having fewer kids, forcing schools to close(theguardian.com)
theguardian.com
US adults are skipping parenting, having fewer kids, forcing schools to close
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/16/birthrate-schools-closing
6 comments
I would gladly have a second child if it didn't take two adults with university degrees working full time to have the life that my parents had with a high school degree working part time.
Difficult decisions for school districts surely. Maybe these buildings could be adapted to other uses. Maybe they could become public: table tennis courts, gyms, performance venues, event centers, reading cafes, farmers markets?
On the one hand, the "adults are skipping out on their duty to spawn for our benefit" framing is really entitled and obnoxious.
OTOH, my impression from news stories and young parents I know is that large parts of the US Public Education-Industrial Complex really do have an attitude like that.
OTOH, my impression from news stories and young parents I know is that large parts of the US Public Education-Industrial Complex really do have an attitude like that.
I didn't read anything remotely of that attitude in the article, just reporting on the fact that schools are closing because of the drop in birth rates.
Except for the poor people (mostly illegal) who come here and leech off the system and have several kids to get more welfare money.
I know an agent that leases houses. One family had 6 kids and got the government to pay for a $6500 a month house here in California. Yes, taxpayers are paying for the family to leech $20k a month between rent/section 8 housing, medical insurance, welfare, and food stamps. Its a joke.
I know an agent that leases houses. One family had 6 kids and got the government to pay for a $6500 a month house here in California. Yes, taxpayers are paying for the family to leech $20k a month between rent/section 8 housing, medical insurance, welfare, and food stamps. Its a joke.