In Tuesday’s daily briefing, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed that he imagines distance learning as the future of education. He said,“One of the areas we can really learn from is education because the old model of our education system where everyone sits in a classroom is not going to work in the new normal.” Cuomo went on to say that, under his vision, there would be no need for brick and mortar schools, or even classrooms.“Why? With all the technology you have?” he said.
The New York State United Teachers responded, in part: “NYSUT believes in the education of the whole child. Remote learning, in any form, will never replace the important personal connection between teachers and their students that is built in the classroom and is a critical part of the teaching and learning process — which is why we’ve seen educators work so hard during this pandemic to maintain those connections through video chats, phone calls and socially distant in-person meetings. If we want to re-imagine education, let’s start with addressing the need for social workers, mental health counselors, school nurses, enriching arts courses, advanced courses and smaller class sizes in school districts across the state.”
I have a 7th grader and a 10th grader. One of them is a motivated learner, she is very disciplined and organized, and has been putting in hours of work every day. Despite this, she has been having a hard time with distance learning, struggling with not having classroom discussions and interactions with her teachers, and missing the social interaction with her friends at lunch and free periods. The other has had a hard time making school work a priority, when the Xbox is calling his name. He says it’s the only way he can stay connected to his friends when he can’t see them in school, on the basketball court or the baseball field. It’s a daily struggle to keep him motivated and engaged in school when he is physically and mentally disconnected from it.
Their teachers are fantastic. None of them have any experience in this. The rug was pulled out from them midway through the school year and they scrambled to come up with ways to reach our kids and continue what they had been teaching in person, through a computer screen, without missing a beat. Some have been truly innovative, making videos of themselves teaching the lessons and posting them online for the kids to watch, or holding Zoom classes. (Side note- if you have ever wondered what it’s like to teach 7th grade, just listen in on a Zoom class. It’s chaos!).
Other teachers in the district have been driving to kids’ homes, and reading to them through a screen door, or sitting in a Target parking lot helping a struggling kid understand a lesson. This is NOT what they got into teaching for. Ask any teacher why they chose their profession and they will tell you it’s because they want to make a difference. They want to impact the lives of children. They want to take on the monumental task of shaping the future generation. Ask them to name someone who had a profound impact on their own life, and they are likely to name a teacher that left a lasting impression on them. Ask a successful person who influenced them growing up and they will probably name a teacher.
Take the instruction part out of it. What else do teachers do? They nurture and care for their students, some as young as four years old. On the first day of pre-K, as teary-eyed parents hand over their most treasured gift, the teacher is entrusted with their care. They hold that child’s hand and introduce them to the first classroom experience that will lay the groundwork for the next 14 years. They sing and read to them, teach them to hold a pencil and write their name. They navigate playtime, snack time and bathroom time. From that point forward, each teacher takes over from the one before, laying one block at a time. In middle school, they navigate the minefield of hormones, mood swings, first crushes, bullying, and rebellious behavior while still trying to teach them Earth Science and Social Studies. In high school, they are fighting for their attention between cell phones, sports, working, dating, proms and unfortunately even drugs, alcohol and vaping.
Throughout the different ages and stages, teachers are a first line of defense against so many things that we parents don’t see. They know when our kids are struggling to understand long division because they see it on their faces. They know when a kid might need a little longer to read a passage in order to comprehend what the author is trying to convey. They teach our kids lessons in health class that some parents are uncomfortable talking with their children about. And they know when our kids may be struggling at home and need someone to intervene or advocate on their behalf.
Teachers do so much more than teach, and schools are so much more than old brick buildings lined with painted metal lockers. The classrooms are where they learn about Shakespeare and Physics, but the hallways and cafeterias are where they learn about life. They form friendships, both transient and lasting. They hold hands with their first boyfriend or girlfriend. They make plans for proms and homecomings. They join clubs that teach them the importance of compassion, civic duty or charity. They find others like themselves, where they discover acceptance and confidence.
These are things that distance learning can never, and should never, replace. Governor, please let our teachers teach the way they know how. And let our kids learn the best way they can. Give them both the tools, the environment, and the support they need to do both successfully. Your re-imagined New York will be better for it.