Let’s talk in-person and distance learning advantages and disadvantages.
Parents all over are wondering about school this fall. It’s the big question on everyone’s mind right now. Can kids go back to school?
And if they can, should they?
The start of the school year is looming ahead and districts have started to release their plans for the upcoming year. Many of these plans involve parents choosing between full distance learning and a hybrid of in-person/asynchronous learning.
It’s a huge decision, and year-long commitment, and we aren’t sure what to do.
We all want the pandemic to be over and 5 day in-person instruction for our kids. However, that’s just not happening right now.
All parents want their kids to be safe and we know that this can be a complicated decision for families. We are all just trying to do our best here.
We understand that there are multiple factors at play and want to help parents figure out what choice is right for their child.
In-Person vs Distance Learning Advantages and Disadvantages
As parents, our minds are in a constant state of chaos these days! We’re constantly going back and forth, questioning our decisions, researching, changing our minds, rinse and repeat.
Here’s just a little of the back and forth we’re seeing out there:
| To learn at home… | …or send to school? |
Children who contract the virus
most commonly show
mild or no symptoms.
We don’t know enough
about the long term
effects of a COVID infection.
Teachers are exposed to
a variety of viruses
and ailments every year.
It’s not an educator’s job
to risk their lives to teach
children.
Parents who work full time
cannot simultaneously assist
their children with distance
learning.
We have more active cases now
than we did in March when the
schools originally closed.
Many parts of the country
are seeing a decline in
the number of cases.
Some students and teachers
(or their family members)
are high risk for severe
complications from the virus.
The cost of daycare for working
parents will be more than
they can afford.
The cost of revamping
schools to provide safe
learning and working
environments will be astronomical.
Parents are not trained to
homeschool their children.
Educators are not prepared
to effectively prevent the
spread of COVID in a
classroom setting.
The CDC has provided
guidelines for safe school
reopening.
Children and teachers need to
be safe. Precautions like masks,
distance, and hand hygiene
are difficult to enforce
especially with young children.
We can return to school
safely with the proper
precautions: masks, desk
spacing, temperature
checks, and social distancing.
Precautions will vary depending
on your school and may
not be as strict as you’d
prefer in your location.
Distance learning was
difficult for young children
last year. It’s ineffective for
teachers, students, and
parents.
Distance learning teaching
methods and materials
have been improved since
teachers and administrators
have had all summer to prepare
this time.
Socialization is important and
children do not learn
effectively on a screen.
Distance learning allows a
consistent schedule without
disruptions that could
potentially occur due to
increasing cases or in person
exposure.
Access to certain resources
and assistance for special
needs students only available
in schools.
Some parents will send their
kids to school sick.
Many students in the US
rely on schools for meals
for food security.
In-person school is going to
look very different: staying
in the classroom all day,
wearing masks, and spaced
out desks.
Not all home environments
are safe for children,
especially in times of high stress.
How are you hanging in there these days? What is your family planing on doing and why?
What are some of the distance learning advantages and disadvantages you’ve come up with?
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