Teacher to NYT - Distance learning was a disaster.

[RandySF]

An elementary school teacher tells the NYT Daily Podcast that distance learning led to unmotivated students, sharing equipment with siblings, increased absenteeism and, perhaps worse, separation anxiety among kids who often leaned on her for emotional support. I can only imagine what a full year of this would be like.

[jimfields33]

1. I am sure there is a story about a kid who was bullied so bad at school

it effected their grades but now with that not a problem they are thriving like never before. I think if they are going to have another year online then laptops are going to have to be provided. Maybe tech companies could donate a bunch. I know they do that some but maybe time to expand.

[soothsayer]

2. That's really no surprise. But what to do?

I think some teachers do it better than others, reading bedtime stories to kids in their jammies, or physically going outside kid’s homes to wave and say hi.

This won’t last forever, but the longer we refuse to take the virus seriously, the longer things like distance learning will drag on.

NYC was the nation’s hotspot and they crushed the virus in less than 100 days (and are still being careful and thoughtful while reopening).

Every state could deprive the virus of hosts and pretty much bring it down to a dull roar if they put their mind to it.

It’s almost summer. We could get it under control before school starts.

But we won’t and I don’t know why.

[RandySF]

4. I know it's necessary, but it's going to be costly.

Imagine if the we had a federal government that took action sooner.

[soothsayer]

8. Yep, lots of unnecessary death because we didn't

I think other countries have intelligently kept people AND businesses afloat. We could do that if we cared to.

[unblock]

3. I think a big part of it is it's new and they didn't have time to properly test and prepare

If we can think of the last 3 months as "beta testing" and given the summer to plan more properly, I think distance learning could work much better come the fall.

That said, different kids react differently, and it does put a burden on parents who may not be able provide good support (particularly if they're back to work by then).

It's a particular challenge for special needs kids. We can manage mini-unblock's adhd and autism with enough reminders and such, but only because he's high-functioning enough for that.

[soothsayer]

9. Absolutely, I think parents have a new appreciation for teachers

And the services that come with school.

So.... why not just all agree to eradicate this thing?

[unblock]

16. Well... I don't think anyone things it's superior to in-school learning

We're only doing it due to social distancing needs.

Omas soon as conditions safely permit it, sure, we'll go back to actual school.

If the alternative is replacing it with nothing until then, I think that would be even worse.

[TheFarseer]

5. I really think my daughter was hurt by distance learning

It was hard to get her to do anything and I AM NOT A TEACHER. I’m sure they are better at this than I am. And this the Republican’s wet dream. Fire all those teachers and use the money for tax cuts instead or to hire their really awesome education company.

[Luciferous]

6. I guess it depends on the situation. My son's grades actually improved with

distance learning. He said it was easier to concentrate without all of the distractions.

[RandySF]

7. I had to keep checking in to see if mine was awake.

[MoonlitKnight]

10. Mine did great

A lot depends on the age, motivation, style of online teaching and parental support.

Elementary should probably be at school as they need the structure. And parents need to have them somewhere to be able to work.

Middle school could be 50/50.

High school can be 100% at home but they miss the social aspect.

Not having the useless mandatory state testing is a benefit. They can focus on learning and not just studying for tests.

[SWBTATTReg]

11. This is why so many businesses, trying to utilize the work at home concept (using PCs, data ...

links, etc.), withdrew from the concept of work at home in so many areas/industries.

It takes a big measure of trust on the part of businesses and employees, that both sides will work as they should (companies deliver specs and/or requirements to be done by employees at home, and vice versa), and that businesses treat work at home employees the same as those that do work in company premises (with perhaps some tax treatments being different, as some localities do different taxing schemes etc.).

[soothsayer]

13. Pretty widely known that ee's work LONGER at home

I don’t know why companies pretend everyone is goofing off.

[SWBTATTReg]

15. I disagree. I had a mix of employees that some worked their a&&es off, and others didn't while...

working from home. It isn't true that companies are pretending that everyone is goofing off. I had 25 people working for me at all times of the day in an IT environment, and one could track logs and such. You could tell who was working and who wasn't, especially after further investigation into the expected work products being delivered and weren't.

[lapucelle]

12. The remote learning situation brought the equity in education issue to the fore.

Not every family has access to the necessary resources like bandwidth, high speed internet, and a computer or device for every child in school and any parent who is also working from home.

[soothsayer]

14. 100% true and important