This coming school year has all the earmarks of putting a colossal dent in the
academic and emotional progress of every student, from kindergarten to college.
I noticed
that the advertising for Frontier Community College is extolling the virtue of
live instruction to potential students. That’s smart because the alternative is
much less appealing. Here’s to hoping FCC is able to make good on their plan.
Conversely, elementary
and high schools in the area are getting very little of value in the way of leadership
from the state on how they should proceed.. They will try to have traditional
classes, but must be prepared for the possibility of an outbreak inside their
walls. A positive test and you are sending kids home to learn on-line.
I’ve taught
on-line classes and confirm their virtue for college students who have time
crunches. But I don’t think it’s a good idea for a first grader.
In a piece
written by Mark Bauerline for the website “First Things,” he says standardized
testing will show a decline with lower reading and math skills from students
forced to cyberspace. They normally use the computer for fun things like video
games. Teachers can’t compete. Parents don’t have the time or---in many
cases---the training to insure their kids’ academic progress.
Then there’s
the emotional and social toll. Teachers and administrators are the first line
of defense against child abuse.
Simply
stated…
An
impediment to the safety and literacy of our children can’t become an accepted
educational strategy.
Are you calling reality an impediment? In person classes are preferred by most. Safety, however, must be factored in. Education is important, but not as important as being alive and not sustaining heart and lung damage because you weren’t willing to wait until you could safely have in person classes. That is not the state’s problem. It’s a problems that humans have right now. As a person who spent time in the education field, I’d think you could see the bigger picture and write something more utilitarian. There’s nothing simple about returning to school this year, and the strategy is not a new norm for education but rather an attempt to resume education safely while medical science comes up with answers to protect the public.
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