The students and families of our district need to be offered the option of sending the kids back to school for the full week in Fall. The families that do not feel comfortable doing so should be able to continue virtual learning. Acknowledging that the needs of those people have been met, we can take them out of the rest of the equation and give everyone else the option to return to in-person learning.
Keeping the schools closed negatively and disproportionately affects:
Younger children at a crucial time in their development
Families with working parents
Children of single-parents
Children with learning disabilities who benefit from specially-trained staff
Children from financially disadvantaged families
Children with tendencies toward electronic addiction
Aren't these the very people we need to advocate for the most? Aren't these the families in the greatest danger of having their children slip through educational cracks?
Children of all ages benefit from in-person learning in many ways. Scholastically, teachers can teach to students better in their presence by being able to keep their attention, answering questions as they arise, tailoring material to their audience, and leading and encouraging discussion. Students learn critical thinking skills and brainstorming better by participating in discussions and projects together. Doing these activities online is not an adequate substitute. Electronic influence in our lives has been increasingly insidious and is leading to weakening social skills in both children and adults. The opportunity for our children to work on and grow their social skills has never been more important.
Depriving the families who are willing of the opportunities and benefits that in-person teaching offers is nothing short of educational malpractice and our kids deserve better. Please find a way to bring our kids back to the classroom.
