By Jocelyn Olmos
No student’s life during a pandemic is easy. It’s crazy really. Whether a student is learning at home or physically at school there are certain restrictions students and teachers face. We need to bring awareness to these times. This way if something like this were to happen again in the future we can be more prepared for it. Different students have different opinions on Distance Learning and Hybrid along with teachers. Of course, many students wish to be back at school so they could be with friends or so that they could learn better and be more engaged in school. However, many other students are fine with Distance Learning and don’t wish to go back to regular school. Here are some opinions and thoughts coming from both students and teachers from Eisenhower High School during our Distance Learning.
Starting with some of the student’s opinions about Distance Learning. Student’s opinions on the matter are very mixed. Others feel great during Distance Learning because it keeps them busy. Others find it to be more stressful. “School is something that distracts me and makes me work instead of being on my phone all day.,” said Hannah Chimal, a 9th grader at Eisenhower High School. Jasmine Olmos a senior at Eisenhower High School finds it to be stressful to have to do the extra work she feels students are receiving during Distance Learning and have to apply for colleges at the same time. “It’s just not as clear.”, here referring to the fact that seniors aren’t receiving all the help they need when applying to colleges. All students that have been interviewed believe that it isn’t safe for students to return physically back to school. “If California is clear, but the pandemic was going on, I wouldn’t go back yet since it is safer to wait until it is over.”, said Hannah Chimal. Students also don’t want to go back to school during a pandemic so they don’t increase the chances of themselves getting COVID-19 or someone they love. Hector Garcia, a sophomore from Eisenhower High School brought this to my attention when being interviewed. Student’s life during Distance Learning is a lot more sitting in front of a computer and doing the work given to them. They do their homework before or after school. “A daily day for distance learning is me sitting at a table just in front of the computer.”, said Hannah Chimal.
Teachers' opinions on the matter are that they wish to be back to regular school. Distance Learning is difficult for teachers since they can’t have that sense of connection they feel when we are all physically at school. “Distance learning is tedious and monochromatic.”, said Mrs. Chamberlain, Eisenhower’s choir teacher. Teachers miss the reactions and energy from their students being in a classroom and being more engaged. Due to Distance Learning, they can see that students just don’t have that blossom of learning anymore. “I want nothing more than to be back in the classroom with all my students learning and thriving in a face to face environment.”, said Mrs. Cheever, an honors and AP science teacher at Eisenhower. Normal workdays for teachers are very different now as well with Distance Learning. Mrs. Cheever explained how she logs on to her computers in the morning, waits for students to sign into class, gives students a warm-up (which takes some time, this way students can sort out any technical issues they have), has an agenda, and explains any reminders she may have. Lastly, she’ll continue on with the lesson. She tries different ways of teaching now since she wants to keep her students focused. Once school is over she logs onto support hours and helps students. Mrs. Chamberlain tries to keep her students engaged by having open discussions. She also tries to keep positive for her students.
Overall, students' opinions on Distance Learning vary. Some find it very difficult to keep up with the work and others enjoy it. Teachers aren’t a fan of it since it involves them feeling like the students don’t have the same excitement they once felt when they would actually go to school. Many people find it safer if we didn’t go back to school and not take any risks. The most we students, teachers, staff, and parents can do is to be safe and be mindful about what is going on and how it affects our students and staff.
Sources:
Hannah Chimal, 9th grader at Eisenhower High School
Hector Garcia, 10th grader at Eisenhower High School
Jasmine Olmos, 12th grader at Eisenhower High School
Mrs. Cheever, AP and Honors science teacher at Eisenhower High School
Mrs. Chamberalin, choir teacher at Eisenhower High School
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