The Coming School Year - Youth Perspectives
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease has infected millions and killed thousands furthermore has taken a toll on everyday life and the world once knew.
One of the major turnovers from the Coronavirus has been in schools entirely shifting from regular learning to remote learning which has been settled for the past 3 to 4 months throughout the rest of the duration of the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers, principals and staff have tried to collectively come together to help the students in the fall 2020-2021 semester. Just today, New York State Governor Cuomo announced public schools will reopen next month with two modules of learning preference; blended or full remote learning approach. While many ideas presented throughout the zoom call on August 6,2020 an idea majority took a step forward for was outside learning. Outside learning consists of utilizing spaces such as streets,public parks,rooftops and school gardens to hold outdoor learning.
For years, teachers have been asked to incorporate more and more technology into our curricula. The City must prioritize schools, teachers, families, and kids. This means putting in place the process for all of our schools to apply for street closure in a streamlined way and for access to parks to be distributed in an equitable way. Principals should not have to figure out one by one how to get access to the space they need to do the outdoor learning that will be necessary this fall.
This idea alone has already been implemented in certain schools even before the pandemic but if we come together as a community, advocating for more outdoor space, resources for these spaces and better creative ideas outdoor learning can be a great success development around the city. However through the course of the meeting Liat Olenick had stated “institutional support is key and schools need more educational support to push for this on a systematic schedule because time is needed we cant have two or more schools in one park that won't cut it. Figuring out things in a time and purpose will surely make things better.” People such Kristin Fields have presented the mission involved with this development for schools “i've organized with several non profit organizations, the mission is to put together an outdoor experience to secure places like rooftops, parks and streets all for the students.”
Report by Myles Austin-Greene, a 16-year old student from Science Skills Center High School in Brooklyn
Are schools reopening because it collaborates with 10% of the United States economy? Although many would disagree with this question, the US President Donald Trump assured that he would make the best economy of the United States when he was elected to become president. Due to the pandemic, the economy had to be closed because everyone’s life was affected due to the unknown virus. The United States spent and is still spending large amounts of money on medical equipment due to the pandemic to keep citizens safe. While the meeting did not touch base on the economy of the United States, it is important to know that the US makes 10% of the country's economy with schools reopening.
Even though many have different perspectives about whether or not the schools should reopen, parents do not feel safe sending their kids back to school because their health is at risk. On the other hand, some parents want to send their kids to return to school because they are not able to afford rent without working but yet fear for their kid's health. The Department of Education has different models regarding the plan for opening the school buildings.
Those models were created based on the response the Department of Education obtained from the survey sent out to parents. The survey consisted of different sets of questions that resulted in the final decision of school buildings reopening. It is clear that many students want to go back to school because they want to make memories and receive a better education with easier facilities, but there would be many restrictions while being in the building. In addition, the models consist of the following: about 50% of students would return to school two days per week, following the other three days remotely. It is a positive idea that schools would reopen because it would feed the homeless kids that are in need and it would give parents the opportunity to attend their jobs site. The requirements that students would need to strictly be required to use is a facemask, students would not be allowed to interact with other kids, students would not be allowed to share utensils, it would be mandatory for students to have breakfast and lunch inside the classroom. Additionally, wearing a face mask for about 7 hours would be challenging for everyone, especially those Pre-K students who are the most fragile. Besides, the DOE has made their decision to reopen the school, and teachers and principals are doing their best at trying to obtain the best option for their building. The SLT [student leadership team] would determine the model the school would choose. The DOE was demanding an answer by August 7th to be informed of the option each school building has chosen. Since the DOE is opening the school building many parents ask, How can families have the confidence that COVID-19 is not going to spread in the school buildings? While there isn’t yet a vaccine to protect anyone from the virus, many people are aware of the symptoms and the effects of the virus. Although people are aware of the symptoms, many of those who are infected with the virus do not show symptoms which concern parents. The DOE answer to the questions is that there would be guidelines such as taking the temperature at the entrance of the building, questions about the symptoms and that schools would be cleaned at least once per day. Air filtration systems were promised for every school building, but it is concerning because schools lost funds.
Report from Stevin Vasquez-Nunez, a soon-to-be senior at Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies in Brooklyn
What Can I Do to Help?
In view of all that these students and describing, how can I help?
In view of very little time that remains to prepare for all these massive and necessary changes and procedures, there are two petitions you can sign to help advocate for the 1.1 million students facing these changes
Petition for the need for outdoor spaces for learning
Petitions for the cancelling of state tests this year
In view of all that students and teachers are facing, the last thing that is needed is the rigorous administration of an unjust, faulty, data and not educationally driven test
Lastly, this petition is connected to a letter [which you can see with the details at the petition site] signed by multiple principals and supported by elected officials calling for the delay to the in-school learning option to make sure the plans are ready and safe