Dr. Phil McGraw stirred controversy on a recent episode of "The View" by calling out the negative impact of pandemic school closures on children. During the show, Dr. Phil expressed his concerns over the lasting effects of shutting down schools, stating that it deprived children of essential support systems and protection from abuse. The co-hosts, including Sunny Hostin and Whoopi Goldberg, pushed back on Dr. Phil, arguing that the closures were necessary to protect children's lives during the pandemic. Dr. Phil insisted that children were the least vulnerable group to COVID-19 and emphasized the detrimental consequences of lockdowns on children's mental health and education.

The discussion highlighted opposing viewpoints on the consequences of school closures, with Dr. Phil pointing to studies showing declines in reading and math test scores among students. The Department of Education's report in 2022 revealed significant drops in test scores compared to previous years, indicating the educational impact of remote learning. Dr. Phil warned that the effects of school closures and lockdowns would have a long-lasting impact on the 70 million children who had experienced challenges during the pandemic.

The debate on "The View" captured the complexity of balancing public health measures with the needs of children during the pandemic, as experts and hosts discussed the consequences of school closures on students' well-being and academic performance.