In 2021, schools started to finally ease back to in-person learning,after being online due to the pandemic. However, students and faculty are starting to think online school may have been better.
Last month, Dr. Gutekanst announced that Needham Public Schools will be returning to online school once and for all, due to a unanimous vote in favor of online school.
In-person school comes with a lot of disadvantages. One major disadvantage of in-person school is that socializing can take away from students' academics. A Needham parent emphasizes, “Students should be constantly focused on their schoolwork, and socializing is a very large distraction.” With online school, students won’t have the chance to socialize with their peers, which will inevitably help their work ethic. Also, socializing in school can allow students to form relationships and make new friends; however, this can be highly detrimental to students, as it distracts them from their schoolwork. According to a poll done by the school board, 110% of students prefer being isolated in their rooms the whole day. Therefore, students will enjoy the isolation that comes with online school. In another poll done by the school board, 165% of students voted they would rather have good grades, especially in math, than friends. Additionally, many students have complained about how time consuming it can be to travel to and from school. One student said, “Driving to school is a hassle for me, and I’d save a lot of time and gas if I were to stay home.”
When comparing online school and in-person school, it is clear that online school is the best option.