How is it really going for students, parents, teachers and school administration with this new method of online instruction ?
Well I can only give you my experience both as a parent and a teacher.
My kids (in 10th and 8th grades) are fully remote (our choice) while I am at work all day. Thankfully they are pretty responsible with their work. The teachers are teaching live for each class except gym, so they go through their schedule the same as the other students who are present every other day for the hybrid program. They don’t complain at all but about 2 weeks in my daughter wanted to go back as her group of friends were in many of her classes including lunch. Our school district has said we can’t switch back in until the semester is over - so the end of January. She is okay with it. My son who is almost 13, eats chips, cereal and waffles for lunch everyday and I’ve decided there are only so many things I can control. He would normally buy lunch in school. He won’t eat sandwiches so not much I can make him ahead of time. He’s perfectly capable of heating something but again, I’m choosing my battles right now.
The Covid cases started popping up in schools around here and we hear about them every week. Some of the schools close for a day for cleaning. Some don’t. My daughter’s high school has had 2-3 cases already. The most recent case they didn’t close schools. Our elementary schools have had 1-2 cases each as well.
My own experience teaching is frustrating and feels like a juggling act, but I feel the kids are getting as much as they can. It should be noted that Long Island schools have many resources. Every student has their own school-issued chrome book, Wi-Fi issues were worked out in the spring, and as teachers we receive frequent training on the programs and technology we use. We also teach live while managing in person students. It’s not easy at all! So many bugs to work out constantly and there are classes or days where you feel you have accomplished nothing but work through tech issues. But overall I feel the teachers here are doing their best and working harder than ever. I spend so much more time preparing than I ever did. It doesn’t help that I’m in a position that’s new for me! We just keep going! Some days I want to cry.
We had our first Covid case in the elementary school (I’m in the middle school but travel to the elementary school part time- long story). I was surprised to learn that the criteria from our dept of health as far as quarantine was that you had to be within 6 feet of the person, for 15 minutes, with no mask. We are all required to wear masks and the kids sit 6 feet apart. However we do get within 6 feet of the kids to help them. It’s sometime unavoidable!
Just one more thing to add. I grew up in NYC and my friends who still live there are in hell! NYC schools only started any in-person learning in October. The remote learning portion is completely unorganized, not enough teachers to provide it, and kids are not online the entire day or even structured the entire day. My best friend is working from home while trying to help her 8th, 6th, and 1st grader stay engaged and learning. It’s such a nightmare. I feel awful for them. Like many others, they are now considering a move. My friend and her husband disagree on private school and I think it’s too late to find spots at this point. But the private schools are attending in person full time. It’s crazy that they live 35-40 minutes from us and their experience is so different.
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What frustrates me the most is the different rules for public schools vs. most any other public space. If those rules were universal, no grocery store, Walmart, hair salon, mall, etc. would be allowed to be open. Just crazy.
