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32 Photos Of In-Person Learning And Not Only Teachers Should See It
American society is having an important debate over schools. Parents, kids, teachers, and government officials are trying to decide when to open, how to open, and if they should open at all.
These talks were only intensified when a suburban Atlanta county opened its schools amid controversy and a growing case count, giving a preview of how difficult the school season could be. A week later, nearly 1,200 students and staff members in the district were ordered to quarantine. On Tuesday, one high school closed its doors until at least August 31. A second followed on Wednesday.
In the midst of it all, teachers all over the country started posting photos of what in-person learning looks like from their point of view, asking everyone to consider their perspective as well. I think we can all agree that it's only fair, right? Continue scrolling to check them out.
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No playing. Masks all day. Six feet apart at all times.
School seems like a frightening place, when you read about all the safety measures kids will have to adhere to this year.
Thankfully, there are educators, like Jennifer Birch Pierson, a Kindergarten teacher from Texas, who are making lemonade from some very sour lemons and making their classrooms as welcoming and comforting as possible for our littlest learners.
Check out how she set up her classroom desks to look like a bunch of trucks on the road. She even makes the required desk shields look like windshields.
Those students who enter her classroom may have a tough time, but clearly they are in the hands of a caring teacher, and that's something all parents can be grateful for.
Thank you to the teachers, who, like Ms. Pierson, are doing all they can and more to make our kids feel safe and happy.
Scott Nelson, a professor who teaches US history at the University of Georgia, shared a picture of himself standing behind a plexiglass shield that was just installed in every classroom in the university. The snap, showing Nelson towering over the glass that can reach neither his mouth nor his chin, seems like a really good representation of the current chaos within the education system.
"I taught in Virginia for 20 years before I came here, so am adjusting since I moved to UGA 4 years ago," Nelson told Bored Panda. "The administration appears to be controlled in Atlanta by a group of the Governor's appointees who have no experience with education. They've decided unilaterally that all schools will remain open. I assume once the infection rates and death rates become embarrassing then they'll stop. The faculty and staff appear to have no say in anything that happens on campus. Years ago, I worked for a Waldenbooks where we received orders every morning through the cash register. The administration seems like that."
Last month, the professor found out that he could teach online but most of his colleagues can't. "I'm gearing up to teach on Twitch and Zoom. There have been 4 COVID outbreaks on the South campus, so I'm not in my office much. I mostly work and write (and will now teach) at home. But I'm freaked out about my students, colleagues, and other staff members given the insanely high COVID rates in the state."
"COVID-19 has everyone freaked out, and I get that and recognize that things have to return to normal at some point. But many of my friends who are professors and faculty in the health sciences at UGA (which is amazing) say that the university administration has done a horrible job preparing." Nelson said the county school system in town is advised by the UGA faculty in public health. "They are doing distance learning. But the university wants to hear nothing from the public health faculty because they think they have it all figured out."
Gina Clayton-Tarvin, the President of Ocean View School District, said that COVID-19 has affected her as well, just like all human beings worldwide, adding that we are all just trying to stay healthy and alive. "I'm disappointed in our nation's response to the pandemic and look forward to change. My job has been moved completely online and I've been teaching remotely (and live) for months to my students."
Clayton-Tarvin's main source of inspiration that helps her to get through this difficult period is the children. "I want other parents to see that there are elected school board members out there that care and frankly, have the ability to get off their rear ends and buy safety equipment." She urged everyone to stop saying the money doesn't exist and go find it. "Demand accountability from your state and national leaders. No safety equals no school. Redress is critical, demand your child's safety."
"Can you believe we even have to answer this question?" Clayton-Tarvin wondered. "The reality is that until it is safe to come back to school in CA, and we are off the 'Watch List,' my commitment is to stay all virtual, even though CA allows waivers for K-6. Let's look to other nations that have brought kids back to school safely and learn from them. Americans are typically the most innovative leaders on tough issues facing our world, but at this, we have failed. Time to pull up our bootstraps, USA, and get to work, our kids are counting on us!"
The CDC, on the other hand, released a statement, arguing for in-person learning. "Schools are an important part of the infrastructure of our communities, as they provide safe, supportive learning environments for students, employ teachers and other staff, and enable parents, guardians, and caregivers to work," the organization wrote. "Schools also provide critical services that help meet the needs of children and families, especially those who are disadvantaged, through supporting the development of social and emotional skills, creating a safe environment for learning, identifying and addressing neglect and abuse, fulfilling nutritional needs, and facilitating physical activity."
"School closure disrupts the delivery of in-person instruction and critical services to children and families, which has negative individual and societal ramifications. The best available evidence from countries that have opened schools indicates that COVID-19 poses low risks to school-aged children, at least in areas with low community transmission, and suggests that children are unlikely to be major drivers of the spread of the virus. Reopening schools creates the opportunity to invest in the education, well-being, and future of one of America’s greatest assets—our children—while taking every precaution to protect students, teachers, staff, and all their families."
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
Please inform me with full conscience and "sound of mind" tell me what the available options are for the working class parents that don't have any other options if they need to work to pay their bills? Don't judge the parents when the state/government is forcing the hand of the parents to even make the decision.
For every dollar the USA spends on education, they spend 8 on the military. Some people may say that that's crazy. But to quote the best president ever: "It is what it is."
You have to take care of yourself, no matter what. Though it will not make it better, I can tell you, you are not alone. Thousands of teachers agree.
Well, grandparents can't speak up when they are gasping for air or are on a ventilator...
I wonder where the rest of the kids go. To a neighbouring room? Or is physical attendance optional?
Schoolboard: But according to our calculations you should be able to place all desks 6 feet apart. What do you mean chairs? Walking space? Students moving? 360° radius?
Because the virus doesn't get airborne and respects the boundaries you have set with that piece of perspex? The university of Georgia must change their name into University of Stupid.
My “classroom”—teaching third grade in the chapel this year. Lucky to at least be able to distance the kids. Weird time to be an educator.
My art classroom this year looks a lot different
Yes, I, as a principal, will be working from home for the time being, but you can always try to contact me via Zoom.
My very depressing music classroom for up to 10 kids with Additional Support Needs.....Yes, a music room....and still expected to teach music.
I really hope your district has provided enough spray disinfectant to hose-down the classroom instruments between groups. I really enjoyed handchimes when I was in elementary school, I hope your students can too.
I wish parents would STOP parent shaming each other. If you are financially able or have familial support in order to do 100% virtual learning than that is great, however, DO NOT shame other parents who must work and do not have the support you have. Our hands are tied. We are all just trying to make the best decisions we can. To all parents: I support you and whatever decision you have made or are forced to make!
We should never stop shaming this administration though. Shame on them for sacrificing our children, elderly, and teachers.
Load More Replies...I'd just like to point out that what goes on in the classroom is only half the battle. How in the heck does the admin expect the school to keep kids 6 feet apart in the hallways, 6 feet apart on the bus, 6 feet apart at the bus stops? You also have small children that do not understand the concept of what is going on. Good luck keeping their masks on and trying to keep them from hugging each other. School administrators just need to tell the federal government to take their back-to-school strategies and stuff them. Did any of the schoolboards consult the CDC or their local immunologists before diving into this?
The school administration has to follow the school board or Dept of Ed in most states. VOTE THE OUT if your area elects them!
Load More Replies...Hey Bored Panda, why are so many totally normal, innocent comments being hidden in this post?
What do you mean? I don’t see any hidden comments, except one from a science denier. And it’s not really hidden, it’s downvoted. How can you know it’s there if it’s hidden? Not being sarcastic, genuinely curious.
Load More Replies...At my school we're starting the year off virtual... It'll suck not to be able to see people in person, but it's a small price to pay to not die of covid
Maine is on the down trend. School opened last week. A town largely unaffected had 2 sick from the local h.s. already. We are looking at disaster here.
SaraFromHell: That's what I'm afraid of. In about two weeks it just might be really, really ugly.
Load More Replies...Simply tell EVERYONE the truth about it that Donald cares a s**t for America or Americans. He just cares for his reelection and his looting family.
Both politicians and the press have tired of COVID. Both are fed up thinking about it and want to move on. Both depend on this to make money for themselves and so there will be no second lockdown. There will be no further reporting of daily cases never mind deaths and when the second wave hits we won't hear anything except the sound of ambulances and rumours of wards being full..
Maybe I should be glad that I stopped teaching 2 years ago... -from a retired professor (and former kindergarten teacher)
"from a retired professor (and former kindergarten teacher)".....talk about a distinction without a difference lol
Load More Replies...I understand that people are afraid, but daycare has been open throughout. Same kids and I have yet to see headlines about daycare creating hot spots. There's headlines in the news saying daycare staff now have to prepare to help kids with remote learning.
Many centers have not been open throughout. The one I work at was closed for awhile and is now opening back up at reduced capacity.
Load More Replies...The high school down road from me? Serves the whole county. It was overcrowded, without enough desks for kids, *before* all this. We've had a crumbling educational infrastructure for a couple decades. Now? Best we got seems to be "pray". Yeah. That worked great in 1918-9, 1347-49... If I had kids at home, no way I could afford to not have them go to school, but no way I want this clusterfu*k, either. At this point, I'd sooner see the kids learning in giant tents on the football field if it meant getting the safety measures right.
I'm so thankful the situation in my province (In Canada) is moderate-low
A couple of those layouts looked pretty good, but I feel for the rest. So much to juggle. These pandemic issues are finally getting to me, and making me really sad for myself and others.
And how many teachers will be "scolded" for not being positive
I have a little secret to tell you all... daycares have been open and operating throughout ALL of this. That's how the entire country has continued to operate and how there are so many parents still working and there are no daycares that are consider hot spots and in my own personal situation there hasn't even been a confirmed case in the daycare my children go to at all though all of this! We adapt, overcome and do the best we can. I can PROMISE you kids adapt and whine much less than grown adults about wearing masks and sanitizing. Stop putting everyone down for the decision they were forced to make. Don't you think everyone would rather stay home with their kids all the time if that was a realistic option for them!? I sure would. But everyone has to make the best decision for themselves and their families situation as they have outweighed all available options (which isn't many options) Respect each other and have some empathy. The state/government has proven were on our own here..
The only problem is that kids can be virus carriers without anyone ever detecting it. I guarantee you that those little kids have given the disease to many others without knowing.
Load More Replies...Every country has its own strategy wrt Covid19 of course. Sweden messed it up in protecting the real elderly in care homes. They kept the schools open and run as usual (without extra social distancing measures) for children until about age 15. This did not seem to lead to too many extra infections and given the low number of children who are victim of Covid in Sweden (age group 0-19: 23 Intensive Care admissions, 1 death -and it is not clear that those would have been prevented if schools were closed). Of course the teachers might be at risk, but I haven't seen any news coverage of higher infection rates among teachers in Sweden. It is good to be careful and usually the ideas of the Trump government are pretty bad, but in this case it might accidentally be not too stupid. Teaching on distance has a social cost as well, possibly especially for the children which are already in a situation where they are in danger of getting behind.
1) There can be permanent physical or neurological effects for children and adults both, which we are only *beginning* to understand but are still very scary. 2) Children who don't die can still pass the virus on to parents or the elderly. Low numbers of deaths in an age group does NOT mean those people were not a factor or are not affected. I understand what you're saying about the social cost but I don't think it's worth it and I really don't think it's fair not to give students or parents any choice about it. It's everybody back to school so parents can work and we're just going to pretend that Covid is over because we wish it were.
Load More Replies...I wouldn't call it like that. Everyday people with different (mis)informations, without a proper guide how to deal with it and the will and need to do their job. Everyone seems to be on his own and to come up with a solution how to go on and integrate all of this mess into the daily routine. Is all of this right, necessary or smart? I don't know. Time will tell. But I'm sure it's better than doing nothing and "let's see what happens". I am really grateful for everyone that takes an extra step, or at least don't acts like a complete buffoon, when it's about the virus... and I live in a land that, so says the media in most places, handles this crisis quite well. Anyway... as long as all this helps even a tiny but or takes some (false!) fear from parents, children and teachers, I think those are sad but good steps.
Load More Replies...I wonder how all the private schools, where the rich kids go, are doing for PPE and so on? I bet the teachers *there* don't have any problems.
I don't see how a school system, that has so small a budget that parents have to supply everything used through out the year, are magically going to have the money to buy all the cleaning and sanitizing products (not to mention proper PPE) needed to keep everyone safe.
Courtney Christelle: They're not. And people are going to get sick.
Load More Replies...Why do American schools have such hideous furniture? What's up with these itty-bitty tiny desks??
They're for itty-bitty people. We call them children. They're usually quite short and small.
Load More Replies...There ARE examples of kids spreading it to adults. I had a friend whose cousin and uncle died from Covid-19 after the cousin (a kid) brought it home to the family. Schools are petri dishes of illness. Kids may be better equipped to fight off the illness, but unless you have kids teaching kids, then you are also putting the adults at risk as well as the families these teachers have at home. And it's Covid-19, not the China Virus. Saying China Virus makes you look like a bigot.
Load More Replies...I wish parents would STOP parent shaming each other. If you are financially able or have familial support in order to do 100% virtual learning than that is great, however, DO NOT shame other parents who must work and do not have the support you have. Our hands are tied. We are all just trying to make the best decisions we can. To all parents: I support you and whatever decision you have made or are forced to make!
We should never stop shaming this administration though. Shame on them for sacrificing our children, elderly, and teachers.
Load More Replies...I'd just like to point out that what goes on in the classroom is only half the battle. How in the heck does the admin expect the school to keep kids 6 feet apart in the hallways, 6 feet apart on the bus, 6 feet apart at the bus stops? You also have small children that do not understand the concept of what is going on. Good luck keeping their masks on and trying to keep them from hugging each other. School administrators just need to tell the federal government to take their back-to-school strategies and stuff them. Did any of the schoolboards consult the CDC or their local immunologists before diving into this?
The school administration has to follow the school board or Dept of Ed in most states. VOTE THE OUT if your area elects them!
Load More Replies...Hey Bored Panda, why are so many totally normal, innocent comments being hidden in this post?
What do you mean? I don’t see any hidden comments, except one from a science denier. And it’s not really hidden, it’s downvoted. How can you know it’s there if it’s hidden? Not being sarcastic, genuinely curious.
Load More Replies...At my school we're starting the year off virtual... It'll suck not to be able to see people in person, but it's a small price to pay to not die of covid
Maine is on the down trend. School opened last week. A town largely unaffected had 2 sick from the local h.s. already. We are looking at disaster here.
SaraFromHell: That's what I'm afraid of. In about two weeks it just might be really, really ugly.
Load More Replies...Simply tell EVERYONE the truth about it that Donald cares a s**t for America or Americans. He just cares for his reelection and his looting family.
Both politicians and the press have tired of COVID. Both are fed up thinking about it and want to move on. Both depend on this to make money for themselves and so there will be no second lockdown. There will be no further reporting of daily cases never mind deaths and when the second wave hits we won't hear anything except the sound of ambulances and rumours of wards being full..
Maybe I should be glad that I stopped teaching 2 years ago... -from a retired professor (and former kindergarten teacher)
"from a retired professor (and former kindergarten teacher)".....talk about a distinction without a difference lol
Load More Replies...I understand that people are afraid, but daycare has been open throughout. Same kids and I have yet to see headlines about daycare creating hot spots. There's headlines in the news saying daycare staff now have to prepare to help kids with remote learning.
Many centers have not been open throughout. The one I work at was closed for awhile and is now opening back up at reduced capacity.
Load More Replies...The high school down road from me? Serves the whole county. It was overcrowded, without enough desks for kids, *before* all this. We've had a crumbling educational infrastructure for a couple decades. Now? Best we got seems to be "pray". Yeah. That worked great in 1918-9, 1347-49... If I had kids at home, no way I could afford to not have them go to school, but no way I want this clusterfu*k, either. At this point, I'd sooner see the kids learning in giant tents on the football field if it meant getting the safety measures right.
I'm so thankful the situation in my province (In Canada) is moderate-low
A couple of those layouts looked pretty good, but I feel for the rest. So much to juggle. These pandemic issues are finally getting to me, and making me really sad for myself and others.
And how many teachers will be "scolded" for not being positive
I have a little secret to tell you all... daycares have been open and operating throughout ALL of this. That's how the entire country has continued to operate and how there are so many parents still working and there are no daycares that are consider hot spots and in my own personal situation there hasn't even been a confirmed case in the daycare my children go to at all though all of this! We adapt, overcome and do the best we can. I can PROMISE you kids adapt and whine much less than grown adults about wearing masks and sanitizing. Stop putting everyone down for the decision they were forced to make. Don't you think everyone would rather stay home with their kids all the time if that was a realistic option for them!? I sure would. But everyone has to make the best decision for themselves and their families situation as they have outweighed all available options (which isn't many options) Respect each other and have some empathy. The state/government has proven were on our own here..
The only problem is that kids can be virus carriers without anyone ever detecting it. I guarantee you that those little kids have given the disease to many others without knowing.
Load More Replies...Every country has its own strategy wrt Covid19 of course. Sweden messed it up in protecting the real elderly in care homes. They kept the schools open and run as usual (without extra social distancing measures) for children until about age 15. This did not seem to lead to too many extra infections and given the low number of children who are victim of Covid in Sweden (age group 0-19: 23 Intensive Care admissions, 1 death -and it is not clear that those would have been prevented if schools were closed). Of course the teachers might be at risk, but I haven't seen any news coverage of higher infection rates among teachers in Sweden. It is good to be careful and usually the ideas of the Trump government are pretty bad, but in this case it might accidentally be not too stupid. Teaching on distance has a social cost as well, possibly especially for the children which are already in a situation where they are in danger of getting behind.
1) There can be permanent physical or neurological effects for children and adults both, which we are only *beginning* to understand but are still very scary. 2) Children who don't die can still pass the virus on to parents or the elderly. Low numbers of deaths in an age group does NOT mean those people were not a factor or are not affected. I understand what you're saying about the social cost but I don't think it's worth it and I really don't think it's fair not to give students or parents any choice about it. It's everybody back to school so parents can work and we're just going to pretend that Covid is over because we wish it were.
Load More Replies...I wouldn't call it like that. Everyday people with different (mis)informations, without a proper guide how to deal with it and the will and need to do their job. Everyone seems to be on his own and to come up with a solution how to go on and integrate all of this mess into the daily routine. Is all of this right, necessary or smart? I don't know. Time will tell. But I'm sure it's better than doing nothing and "let's see what happens". I am really grateful for everyone that takes an extra step, or at least don't acts like a complete buffoon, when it's about the virus... and I live in a land that, so says the media in most places, handles this crisis quite well. Anyway... as long as all this helps even a tiny but or takes some (false!) fear from parents, children and teachers, I think those are sad but good steps.
Load More Replies...I wonder how all the private schools, where the rich kids go, are doing for PPE and so on? I bet the teachers *there* don't have any problems.
I don't see how a school system, that has so small a budget that parents have to supply everything used through out the year, are magically going to have the money to buy all the cleaning and sanitizing products (not to mention proper PPE) needed to keep everyone safe.
Courtney Christelle: They're not. And people are going to get sick.
Load More Replies...Why do American schools have such hideous furniture? What's up with these itty-bitty tiny desks??
They're for itty-bitty people. We call them children. They're usually quite short and small.
Load More Replies...There ARE examples of kids spreading it to adults. I had a friend whose cousin and uncle died from Covid-19 after the cousin (a kid) brought it home to the family. Schools are petri dishes of illness. Kids may be better equipped to fight off the illness, but unless you have kids teaching kids, then you are also putting the adults at risk as well as the families these teachers have at home. And it's Covid-19, not the China Virus. Saying China Virus makes you look like a bigot.
Load More Replies...