Do you feel like you get adequate support from your teachers when in person?

By Sherydan Dunn

What did the data say: 52% of students felt like they have had support during the pandemic or during hybrid schooling. 24% said N/A, 18% said somewhat, 6% said no.

My Reaction: Although 52% said yes, there is still 48% who did not feel they received support. Out of the 315 students that took this survey, that is 152 kids. That 48% cannot be ignored and I feel that happens a lot. People like to focus on the majority who are getting support and leave the others behind. I feel a “survival of the fittest” attitude has been adopted in situations like these. Education shouldn’t be a race or a competition. Or if it is going to be a competition, can we make sure everyone is on the same playing field first? These practices are harmful to students and their education. This is what drives students to drop out, or develop inadequate feelings for school. It will only push people down dangerous paths of life.

Recommendations?/What can the school do better?: Schools can do more personal check-ins with students. They can place small groups of students with a teacher. Teachers should be avid in helping students be agentic in their education. Staff being open to feedback on the school system from students is also important.

What can Students and families do? Families can offer encouragement. I feel like parents/guardians should reach out to staff, because when teachers know parents care about their child, they are more cautious about how they treat that student in the classroom. The student will also be less likely to fall behind. Students can educate ourselves on schooling options, find their learning style and what works best for them. Families can set up goals and plan with your student. Go to school board meetings and stay informed of the decisions being made that will affect students’ education.

When the pandemic ends, do you want school to go back to normal (in-person everyday) or continue with a hybrid-model (a mix of in-person and virtual)?

What the data says: 51% said they wanted to go back fully. 28% said they would follow the hybrid model. 21% filled in their own preferences for schooling.

My Reaction: No student is the same so why is there only two real options to learn? It’s a shame it took a global pandemic for education leaders to finally step back and evaluate the way students are being taught. For us to have so much progress over hundreds years in medicine and technology, education has pretty much been stagnant with little change. We have a generation of students that takes care of siblings, are providers alongside their parents, have unjust home lifes, face mental issues, and more. It’s not very helpful to have only two tangible educational models for students to follow. This also causes students to drop out.

My recommendation/What can schools do better? Schools should look at each student as an individual, with their own set of circumstances. If a student has a certain skill, then help them with resources to strengthen it. Help them find internships and resources to help them achieve it. No two students’ academic situation is the same, so there needs to be personalized plans to make sure everyone can achieve the diploma. Be open to feedback and focus to encourage students to be agentic.

What can Students and families do? Assess home life and day-to-day activities. Is your child a provider? Find a place where they can go to school 2–3 days a week. Voice your demands for change to school leaders. Follow up and hold them accountable. Get other families’ support and have meetings with the same concern or requests that you have. Be a true change advocate. If we are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, changes need to be made today.