As the summer begins to wan, the start of school is starting to come into focus. Many are wondering if school is going to start and whether or not classrooms will be real or virtual. Based on what one reads and sees in the media it appears that for most locations, it will virtual. This raises the question of quality. How good will the instructions be without the backdrop of a brick and mortar schoolhouse? Does the learning environment suffer without the face to face instruction provided at school? When teaching from home, do teachers have the resources they need to fully engage their students?
I think a compromise can be reached. Have the teachers instruct from school, while the students stay at home. Outlined below are some ideas on why this should be done and ideas on how to make it work.
1. Money. Every single one of us, in some form or another, is paying taxes to fund schools. The buildings and its operations, the books, the teams, the technology, subsidized meals, transportation, and numerous other aspects of running a school. We are also taxed to pay the salaries of the teachers and administrators.
As mentioned at the beginning, there are many who have concerns that bringing students back to the classroom could increase the risk of spreading the virus. Although serveral studies don't support this concern, I understand the level of anxiety. That being said, we are still paying teachers to teach. We should demand this. And we should expect this to be done at the highest level possible. Coming back to the classrooms, with no students, would enhance the instruction without unduly increasing the levels of exposure. Social distancing, and masking up when necessary, could be done easily. Avoid the teachers lounge. Hold interactions with other teachers outside, with masks.
There are teachers who are doing their absolute best under the current circumstances. But there are others who are doing the bare minimum. Bringing teachers back to their classrooms would allow all teachers to up their game, so to speak. The ones who are doing well, they'd be just that much better. And those who are not doing so well, the environment would force them to up their efforts.
If teachers are brought back to the classrooms, they would be doing it from a location designed and designated for just that; teaching. They would have all the available resources at their fingertips. Books, visual aids, technology.
If there are concerns about the inability to reach all students, this can be overcome. With the money saved not paying for buses, sports teams, field trips, etc, money could be made available to outfit all students with laptops, as well as Internet connectivity. School districts could band together and purchase laptops in bulk, which would significantly reduce the per item cost. And internet providers already have programs in place that could be utilized by school districts to get connectivity for those students that otherwise can't afford internet access. I didn't say it could be easily overcome, but if teachers and administrators truly do believe it's all about the kids, it can be be done.
2. Professionalism. When we pay for any type of service, we expect professional results. Do you expect an individual, whether a doctor, lawyer, auto mechanic, arborist, plumber, or a sales clerk to act like a professional? Why shouldn't we expect the same thing from teachers.
We should expect a certain level of professionalism from our teachers. While in the classroom, we expect them to dress professionally. No sweat pants. Hair combed or neat. We wouldn't want our teachers to show up in a classroom full of students looking like they just rolled out of bed. Is this widespread issue? I can't say. But I've seen and heard enough anecdotal evidence this is happening to some degree. Would putting teachers back into the classrooms cause them to present themselves in a professional manner? One would hope, and we should expect it.
Remove anyone from their professional environment, standards slip. A little less concerned about how one is dressed. A little less concerned with the condition of their hair. I don't think any reasonable person can argue with this. For some, it just a little, for others it can be off the cliff. Put teachers back in the environment they are most familiar with, their classrooms, the level of professionalism will go up.
3. Learning. I don't think anyone can truly say that the level of learning right now is at the same level it was before the pandemic. I'm not saying this applies to all teachers and all students. But the structure as it stands now is not serving all as it would in a classroom environment.
Getting teachers back in the classroom can only enhance the learning environment. A student looks in on their laptop and behind the teacher is a blackboard (or whiteboard). Maybe a map or other paraphernalia that says you're in a classroom now, time for some learnin'. Most of us have been in a classroom and we have an general idea what it should look like. It doesn't look like the view of what's behind the teacher's kitchen table, or the home office with the doggo or cat roaming by. Having a classroom as the backdrop reinforces the learning environment.
I know there are some who look at this a obstacle that cannot be overcame. They point out that schools are not set up for distance learning on a large scale. I argue there are resources available that can utilized. Homeschooling groups could be a good starting point. While they don't do it on a scale as large as would be needed in the case being discussed here, it would certainly lay a strong foundation. I know many teachers and administrators view homeschooling with varying levels of disdain, but one cannot argue with the success many homeschool students exhibit. The organizations that back up folks who homeschool sets the table for the success students achieve. Would it be difficult to try to scale this to public schools? Yes, no doubt. But if learning from a distance is going to be anything more than very short term, the effort must be made
If we are going to insist that kids stay home to slow down the spread of the virus, the least we as a society can do is ask our teachers to go an extra half mile and provide instruction from a professional environment. I really don't believe having them to do this is too much to ask. If it OK for us to expect others risk their health to clerk, drive public transportation, fix our cars, etc., then asking teachers to teach from a classroom is not a bridge too far.
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