Several years (#!$%) ago when I was in public high school, I was in what was called then, “college preparatory” classes. Meaning that I was taking classes that I would need to get into a college upon graduation. They were quite difficult courses, if I am remembering correctly. I struggled with Algebra 1 and 2, geometry, challenging English language classes, biology and chemistry courses. I saw classmates grapple with these same classes. Had it not been for the learned teachers’ instructions and explaining some of the details, I can tell you for sure I would still be in high school.
With the explosion of COVID, a new concept came into being somewhat of a normal for the schooling of our children and some adults – online learning. Everyone was so afraid and anxious about this new malady, we were somewhat relieved that we didn’t have to send our kids to school to be exposed.
My grandchildren joined the ranks of the computer students and began what seemed then, the only safe way of carrying on our lives. Now, it is a completely unnecessary part of our school curriculum, although nearly 80% of our students loved this remote learning and some are continuing to be remotely taught.
I am of the mind that we should all go back to the classroom. Remote learning has quite a few shortcomings and negatives. There is lack of communication between the teacher and the learner. At some point, a student will need some communicative help from the instructor.
There is lack of motivation on the pupil’s end, time management is not thought of and some have trouble with staying disciplined. There are too many distractions around the study area, and it reduces student achievement and educational development and adversely affects students’ mental well-being with no social interaction.
If your child is an online student, he at the least needs virtual events from the computer classroom with provided face-to-face interaction so that there is immediate feedback. It’s as if there is no accountability on the learner’s part. With online learning, there is no opportunity to play sports, no participation in the band or any kind of social clubs and no way to have the interaction with friends, and they surely need this social outlet. The cost? Online schooling costs an average of $250 per month. That is unless you do this on your own, with no help from an instructor. Then you are totally on you own and some of them — I am not judging all of them, but some — may take the easy way and find the app that will give all the correct answers on a computer or phone to pass with flying colors. But what have you learned?
I think we need to get back to the “old times” not only in our prices, living and values, but in the schooling, too.
Easy Easy Biscuits
2 ¼ cups of Bisquick
½ cup of sour cream
½ cup of 7-Up
¼ cup of melted butter
Mix together and drop from a tablespoon onto a parchment-covered skillet. Cook at 400 for about 15 minutes.
