COVID-19's Impact on Education

Year in and year out, in the second half of the school year, high school students and staff beg for the end of the school year to come quicker. Their begs were somewhat answered this year, as all schools will be shut down for what will soon be three months, leaving students with a simple 3 hour work day. And while it sounds amazing on paper, when you factor in that due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, sports, concerts, restaurants, amusement parks and many other forms of entertainment are closed for the time being, it does not sound like the vacation many high schoolers were dreaming of. It is an extreme time of boredom across the world, even worse than we previously imagined. But focusing on the educational part of this crisis, how are students responding to remote learning? Are they finding it more enjoyable, and much easier due to the three hour work day? Well, not exactly.

Ninety students from around the seacoast answered polls with various different questions regarding remote learning, and for the most part, students were split on their answers. In a poll asking students if they enjoyed remote learning more than actual school, 69% voted no while the remaining 31% voted yes. This almost completely accurately matches a poll asking whether students missed school, to which 68% said yes and 32% said no. This, along with the fact that a poll asking students if they received more work than they normally would was split 50-50, shows that students' experiences have differed majorly. Students also wrote in answers, only confirming the differences in perception when it comes to remote learning. For example, many students stated that they enjoy the extra sleep, while some wake up at the same time they normally would, and that some students stated that they enjoy a “more relaxed classroom setting”, while others refer to it as “boring”. If students had different classes, teachers, or spent a different amount of time practicing remote learning, the numbers could be very different as well. Nonetheless, it still seems that around two thirds of students prefer physical school learning rather than remote learning.

It is now perfectly clear that this is not the dream vacation everyone wishes for halfway through the school year, even for those who prefer remote learning. It is impossible to satisfy everybody; however, the school districts and people in power are doing their job to keep us safe. However, we need to do our job, and although remote learning may not help, we must resist the urge to go out with our friends and gather in large groups. We must accept the boredom for the time being, as it will bring better times ahead. For many, it is weird to desire this, but the sooner we can limit the impact of the virus, the sooner we will be living our normal lives, waking up at 6am, and spending the school day thinking about the next vacation. Stay safe ;)

Article by Josh Durand