COVID-19 is Changing Education Based on Race, Class
COVID-19 is a pandemic that has caused everyone from around the world to take a pause on their life and daily routines in the outside world for their own safety. People from all over have been asked to stay at home and self-quarantine as health professionals try to find a vaccination that can help treat the virus.
This pandemic has caused not only a fear for many people’s lives, but, major lifestyle struggles as well. There are the elderly, who are alone in order to protect themselves from others, being that they are a part of the “higher risk” group. Children and grandchildren are unable to visit them to be sure that they are okay. People dying of the virus are unable to have proper funeral services. Workers are asked to stop working, and children are asked to stop attending school. These are just a few ways the virus has affected people in intangible ways. These precautions affect everyone. Despite race and class. However, these precautions may be affecting a certain race and class more. Such as children who attend urban public schools, especially those a part of the working class, possibly not receiving any form of education due to the lack of resources on the schools behalf and even at home.
There will be a large group of kids who would have missed an entire semester worth of learning material and school work. This may affect them in their future learning. For example, children who are not seniors will have to start where they left off this semester. Slowing the process of their education because they have to learn material they should have learned in the previous grade. Seniors have to meet requirements for graduation they may now be unable to meet during these circumstances. These examples affect those who lack the resources to participate in virtual learning. In cities where low income students attend public schools, it may be a real challenge to continue their education. Especially, if the county is not prepared to continue class outside of the school. The other challenge may be that children who are in fact able to participate virtually; their families may not be able to afford laptops, or may not have access to the internet. So children can’t be granted the access they need to the resources that will help continue their learning from home.
According to edsurge.com, “the biggest shifts may occur at the intersections of K-12, higher education and workforce learning.” For students in K-12 learning, there is a concern for SAT and ACT testing. This certainly will impact their plans for higher education. Such as what school they will be attending, and what schools and programs they may have been able to qualify for as they transition into higher education. There will also be a shortage of teachers due to students who have attended colleges and universities learning how to become teachers, and not being able to finish it through. These students could potentially lose some form of credibility, for all the years they put in learning the system of education.
This pandemic has not only affected people and children all over the world for the various reasons listed above. This pandemic also affected my younger brother who is a senior at a high school just outside of Detroit City outskirts. Because of this virus and the need to self quarantine, my younger brother will never experience a prom. Or his high school graduation. He will never be able to have proper farewell to classmates or teachers who he may never see again. He will also never have the opportunity to end his last days in high school and make it memorable.
However, these changes are things that cannot be controlled. These are changes that have to happen to help ensure the safety of everyone. So, rather than to dwell on things that we as citizens of the world are unable to control, may those who have insight to offer, provide it. Those who have plans that may be able to help adjust these circumstances for the better, reveal it. And may all communities come together to help find a solution that can better some of the problems schools and families are facing.
Times may be hard now, but they won’t always be that way. Though this will take time, things will get better. And as people continue to take precautions that have been asked of them, they also help the world get one-step closer to a place we all once knew.
