Remember the time when schools were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic? This certainly had an effect on educational systems all over the world. A surge in COVID-19 cases in March 2020 resulted in the closure of multiple schools, colleges, and universities. Having said that, a recent episode of ABC’s The View touched on the same topic. Dr. Phil and Whoopi Goldberg had a fiery debate over the COVID shutdown and how it impacted kids’ mental health.
As schools remained closed and children were forced to study at home, the question of whether these measures were truly in the best interests of our youth became a hot-button issue. In an interview that aired on the daytime talk show on Monday, a well-known psychologist and TV personality Dr. Phil made the case that students’ lack of social interaction and school closures have negatively affected their mental health.
On the other hand, Whoopi Goldberg, a co-host of The View, defended the decision to keep schools closed in order to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
Dr. Phil’s Tirade Against COVID Closures, Startled The View’s Hosts
A recent episode of The View featured a conflict of viewpoints as hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro disputed Dr. Phil’s (Phillip Calvin McGraw) critique of school closures. The latter argued that the measures implemented to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading had inadvertently resulted in a rise in children’s mental health issues. To quote him:
“And then Covid hits 10 years later, and the same agencies that knew that, are the agencies that shut down the schools for two years. Who does that? Who takes away the support system for these children? Who takes it away and shuts it down?”
Hostin, co-host of The View, refuted McGraw’s perspective by highlighting the following:
“There was also a pandemic going on…”
Meanwhile, Dr. Phil’s claims did not seem to be supported by Goldberg, as she claimed:
“They were trying to save kids’ lives. We know a lot of folks who died during this…”
Dr. Phil gave the following response when Navarro questioned him about whether COVID had not resulted in any deaths of school kids:
“I’m saying it was the safest group. They were the less vulnerable group, and they suffered and will suffer more from the mismanagement of Covid than they will from the exposure to Covid, and that’s not an opinion. That’s a fact.”
McGraw has previously claimed that the lockdown was more deadly than COVID. He made an incorrect statement about non-contagious causes of death on Fox News in 2020, shortly after the first lockdown had started.
Dr. Phil’s Views Over COVID Lockdowns: What Are Fans Saying?
The heated debate between Dr. Phil and Whoopi Goldberg sparked an intense debate regarding physical health and mental well-being in such difficult times. The conversation was about more than just policies, though, as it became evident as the debate went on. Following the heated exchange between Dr. Phil and Goldberg, fans took to social media to share their thoughts and opinions on the topic.
The reactions were mixed, with a significant number of fans supporting Dr. Phil’s point of view. Let’s see what fans are saying:
I am really glad he is speaking up about this issue because it needs to be addressed! These children are hurting because of all this nonsense and IMO will never be the same without counseling!
— Kathleen Winchell ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@KathleenWinche3) February 26, 2024
Dr. Phil is brining the heat down on these liberal ladies. You love to see it!
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) February 26, 2024
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.
Especially when the whole COVĮD situation was politically motivated and abused.
The poor children who suffered through it will never get back those formative years.
There need to be legal consequences for those responsible.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) February 26, 2024
The governments that shut down the schools over Covid aren’t the only ones to blame. Parents who weren’t making sure their children were attending class and such also hurt the children’s education.
Many of these kids are still struggling 4 years later. They fell so far behind…
— ❥❥❥ᗰoᒪᒪie❥❥❥ (@mollie_don) February 27, 2024
Dr. Phil is absolutely right. The lockdowns just sent these children being harmed back into the hands of those who shouldn’t be. Everything involving covid was handled in the wrong manner and children suffered the consequences of it. They will never get those years back.
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) February 26, 2024
While many fans appear to agree with Dr. Phil’s concerns regarding how school closures affected kids’ mental health, a sizable number of fans also supported Goldberg’s focus on public health and safety.
As the discussion rages on, it is critical to acknowledge the complexity of the matter at hand. The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented strain on all sectors of society, including education, and it must be our responsibility to navigate these uncharted waters.
