Observations of a Teacher

When this pandemic hit in March our school was full of panic. Teachers were the frontline workers fielding questions from frightened, uncertain students with absolutely no concrete information. Nothing has changed on this front, students still have questions about what's going on in the world around us as well as the uncertainty of when they will be able to go back to school and get back to a "normal".

With no real answers to any of their questions and with so many of our own we are called to be a steady character in all of their lives. Our students are searching for consistency, stability, and answers. I am seeing how students are rising to the occasion. Students are trying, with adjustments to lessons and really focussing on necessary work when planning, students are able to engage in meaningful learning and skill building. 

The structure and focus of content are streamlined in order to support learning through online platforms. This new model of education has really pushed educators to figure out what exactly we are trying to get students to learn. How we truly support and engage with students. As well as what is not necessary, what can we truly expect youth to do during this time. 

Some youth are thriving! They are able to manage their time, with reminders, and are still holding themselves to high standards. Pushing to figure out how to learn and what they need in order to learn. Youth are advocating for themselves in ways that I have not personally witnessed in schools- I think they are actually being supported to advocate for themselves in this new system which seems different than "normal" school.

There are some students who we are failing as a system. As a society we had, and continue to have, all the resources needed to make remote learning equitable for all students, but they continue to choose other priorities over the needs of our youth. Also some students are not as self motivated and without being in the building with them it is increasingly harder to motivate students to learn. It is also easier from the educators standpoint to "let it go", which is unfortunate for our youth and a disservice to them. 

In students personal lives, which we have a literal window into, they are experiencing such new realities. I have students who are helping out with newborns while engaging in classroom dialogue. I have students who have been responsible for feeding themselves and I've supported by talking them through making their own noodles. I have students that have taken on caretaking roles for sick grandparents/ other family members. Students who are in different learning environments every day, switching to family member's houses, OST programs, and home. Some students are thriving on the lessened social pressure put on them while others are starving to see their friends again. 

If one thing is clear throughout this whole pandemic is that youth are stronger, smarter, and more resilient than the rest of us. This has only made that clearer.