We Need to Focus on Robust Remote Learning Instead of Re-opening.

Earlier this week, The American Academy of Pediatrics released guidance on reopening schools and got a lot of attention when they said “the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”

Parents rejoiced and corporations cheered. After all, in order for the economy to restart we need to open schools, right?

Teachers, however, continued to panic. Many of us have been in an almost constant state of panic since March. We pivoted to remote learning (crisis schooling) on a few hours’ notice. We built the plane while flying it, trying to figure out how to teach virtually when not every student had equal access to technology or even equal access to the time and space to devote to school. We worried about the students who never responded. We cried when parents told us their children were regressing or dealing with isolation and loneliness. We took Zoom calls at night and answered emails at 3am. Some of us dropped off gifts or mailed letters. Many of us made silly videos and filmed graduation goodbyes. When school ended for the year we closed our computers and sat there stunned. How could this be it? How do you end a school year isolated and apart instead of laughing and hugging?