The first half of the school year has been chaotic at best. Online class, video lessons, and hybrid batched school days have made for an unwelcome change to students and parents. Remote schooling, albeit something that I believe will be beneficial in the long run from an independent learning standpoint, has been deemed as a sorry excuse for an education. On one hand I can see the frustration, and certainly some teachers and/or schools have dropped the ball while feeling the relatable stresses and depression of 2020. As I’ve spent time with a number of students seeking someone to teach them individually, I can tell you that this concept of learning independently feels foreign to them. This is a signal that something in the K-12 education system is missing. In college this notion of hand holding does fade away and naturally students mature and adapt, but why not nurture this practice earlier on in students’ lives. This may open the doors of curiosity and allow a student to investigate or pursue avenues that they wouldn’t because they’re engulfed in the conveyor belt that can be the school system. This is not a knock on the teachers as their work is invaluable, but rather a knock on the system itself that is lagging behind. This unfamiliar structure of remote learning has challenged even the best and brightest of students. I’ve sat across from 4.0 students who can barely pass their math class because their environment has shifted. But before we check out and write this year off as a waste of time, maybe we can stop to appreciate what it will have taught these students that they can take with them for years to come. The realities of adaptation, teaching oneself, and that life is unpredictable. All this being said, I’m proud of the students I see every week stepping up despite the blame and criticism of this school year. Many students’ desire for growth, regardless for circumstance, has remained, and it’s up to the leaders in their lives to maintain composure and show that worthwhile progress often occurs amidst discomfort and uncertainty.
Teachers - Your extra hours haven’t gone unnoticed.
Parents - You’re doing great. Keep up the good work.
Students - We’re in this together.