I don't directly agree with the parent comment but I can see a productive argument that could be made against the current implementation of many school zones.

Mainly that if we want traffic to be slow and walking children to be safe, this can be accomplished by better planning and placement of schools and better design of our streets.

Slapping a blinking 30mph sign on a wide, straight, six-lane highway is kind of a brute force solution that relies on enforcement and compliance, and still leaves pedestrians vulnerable to a lot of car traffic. Anyone walking through or crossing the street during non-school-zone hours is also not afforded that extra level of safety.

Placing the schools on quieter streets with features designed to naturally slow traffic flow and promote safety for pedestrians and bicycles could accomplish most of the same safety goals and work passively 24/7.

As could designing neighborhoods so that more kids can walk and bike to school, reducing car traffic further during busy pickup/dropoff times.

I think elimination is a little broad, but I also think the majority of school zones aren't necessary, in my midwestern area of the US at least. Most schools I pass are set well back from the road, have a schoolyard that is entirely fenced, there's a bus/pickup circle off the street, and there's no sidewalk along or crosswalk across the school zoned street. There is little chance a student is going to be anywhere near the street.

many school zones do not have a flashing light and instead have a timetable printed on the sign. This requires you to know at an instant: The current time (which depending on what you drive may not be accessible), If school is actively in session (If you don't have kids or are in a different area you may not know this)

These school zones are instead designed to generate revenue and not do anything for safety. If you are going to have an enforceable school zone you should have a flashing light indicating when its active.

Just think of the minutes of your life you'll never get back. 20 minutes of your entire life, poof, gone! And for what, safety?